A Treaty held with the Ohio Indians, at Carlisle, in October, 1753.

A TREATY, &c. To the Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Eſq Lieutenant-Governor, and Commander in Chief, of the Province of Pennſylvania, and Counties of New-Caſtle, Kent and Suſſex, upon Delaware, The REPORT of RICHARD PETERS, ISAAC NORRIS, and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, Eſquires, Commiſſioners appointed to treat with ſome Chiefs of the Ohio Indians, at Carliſle, in the County of Cumberland, by a Commiſſion, bearing Date the 22d Day of September, 1753. May it pleaſe the GOVERNOR.

NOT knowing but the Indians might be waiting at Carliſle, we made all the Diſpatch poſſible, as ſoon as we had received our Commiſſion, and arrived there on the Twenty-ſixth, but were agreeably ſurprized to find that they came there only that Day.

IMMEDIATELY on our Arrival we conferred with Andrew Montour, and George Croghan, in order to know from them what had occaſioned the preſent coming of the Indians, that we might, by their Intelligence, regulate our firſt Intercourſe with them; and were informed, that tho' their principal Deſign, when they left Ohio, was to hold a Treaty with the Government of Virginia, at Wincheſter, where they had accordingly been; yet they intended a viſit to this Province, to which they had been frequently encouraged by Andrew Montour, who told them, he had the Governor's repeated Orders to invite them to come and ſee him, and aſſured them of an hearty Welcome; and that they had moreover ſome important Matters to propoſe and tranſact with this Government.

THE Commiſſioners finding this to be the Caſe, and that theſe Indians were ſome of the moſt conſiderable Perſons of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, with Deputies from the Twightwees, and Owendats, met them in Council, in which the Commiſſioners declared the Contents of their Commiſſion, acknowledged the Governor's Invitation, and bid them heartily welcome among their Brethren of Pennſylvania, to whom their Viſit was extremely agreeable. — Conrad Weiſer and Andrew Montour interpreting between the Commiſſioners and Indians and ſeveral Magiſtrates, and others, of the principal Inhabitants of the County, favouring them with their Preſence.

THE Twightwees and Delawares having had ſeveral of their great Men cut off by the French and their Indians, and all the Chiefs of the Owendats being lately dead, it became neceſſary to condole their Loſs; and no Buſineſs could be begun, agreeable to the Indian Cuſtoms, till the Condolances were paſſed; and as theſe could not be made, with the uſual Ceremonies, for want of the Goods, which were not arrived, and it was uncertain when they would, the Commiſſioners were put to ſome Difficulties, and ordered the Interpreters to apply to Scarrowyady, an Oneido Chief, who had the Conduct of the Treaty in Virginia, and was a Perſon of great Weight in their Councils, and to aſk his Opinion, whether the Condolances would be accepted by Belts and Strings, and Liſts of the particular Goods intended to be given, with Aſſurances of their Delivery as ſoon as they ſhould come. Scarrowyady was pleaſed with their Application; but frankly declared, that the Indians could not proceed to Buſineſs while the Blood remained on their Garments, and that the Condolances could not be accepted unleſs the Goods, intended to cover the Graves, were actually ſpread on the Ground before them. A Meſſenger was therefore forthwith ſent to meet and haſten the Waggoners, ſince every Thing muſt ſtop till the Goods came.

It was then agreed to confer with Scarrowyady, and ſome others of the Chiefs of the Shawoneſe and Delawares, on the State of Affairs at Ohio, and from them the Commiſſioners learned, in ſundry Conferences, the following Particulars, viz.

"THAT when the Governor of Pennſylvania's Expreſs arrived at Ohio, with the Account of the March of a large French Army to the Heads of Ohio, with Intent to take Poſſeſſion of that Country, it alarmed the Indians ſo much, that the Delawares, at Weningo, an Indian Town, ſituate high up on Ohio River, went, agreeable to a Cuſtom eſtabliſhed among the Indians, and forbad, by a formal Notice, the Commander of that Armament, then advanced to the Straits, between Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, to continue his March, at least not to preſume to come farther than Niagara. This had not however any Effect, but, notwithſtanding this No •••• the French continued their March; which, being afterwards taken into Conſideration by the Council, at L • gs-Town, they ordered ſome of their principal Indians to give the French a ſecond Notice to leave their Country, and return Home, who meeting them on a River running into Lake Erie, a little above Weningo, addressed the Commander in these Words:

The ſecond Notice delivered to the Commander of the French Army, then near Weningo. Father Onontio.

Your Children on Ohio are alarmed to hear of your coming ſo far this Way. We at firſt heard you came to deſtroy us; our Women left off planting, and our Warriors prepared for War. We have ſince heard you came to viſit Us as Friends, without Deſign to hurt us; but then we wondered you came with ſo ſtrong a Body. If you have had any Cauſe of Complaint, you might have ſpoke to Onas, or Corlaer (meaning the Governors of Pennſylvania, and New-York) and not come to diſturb us here. We have a Fire at L • gs-Town, where are the Delawares, and Shawoneſe, and Brother Onas; you might have ſent Deputies there, and ſaid openly what you came about, if you had thought amiſs of the Engliſh being there; and we invite you to do it now, before you proceed any further.

The French Officer's Anſwer. Children,

I FIND you come to give me an Invitation to your Council Fire, with a Deſign, as I ſuppoſe, to call me to Account for coming here. I muſt let you know that my Heart is good to you; I mean no Hurt to you; I am come by the great King's Command, to do you, my Children, Good. You ſeem to think I carry my Hatchet under my Coat; I always carry it openly, not to ſtrike you, but thoſe that ſhall oppoſe me. I cannot come to your Council Fire, nor can I return, or ſtay here; I am ſo heavy a Body that the Stream will carry me down, and down I ſhall go, unleſs you pull off my Arm: But this I will tell you, I am commanded to build four ſtrong Houſes, viz. at Weningo, Mohongialo Forks, L • gs-Town, and Beaver Creek, and this I will do. As to what concerns Onas, and Aſſaragoa (meaning the Governors of Pennſylvania and Virginia) I have ſpoke to the • and let them know they muſt go off the Land, and I ſhall ſpeak to them again; if they will not hear me, it is their Fault, I will take them by the Arm, and throw them over the Hills. All the Land and Waters on this Side Allegheny Hills are mine, on the other Side theirs; this is agreed on between the two Crowns over the great Waters. I do not like your ſelling your Lands to the Engliſh; they ſhall draw you into no more fooliſh Bargains. I will take care of your Lands for you, and of you. The Engliſh give you no Goods but for Land, we give you our Goods for nothing."

WE were further told by Scarrooyady, that when the Anſwer to this Meſſage was brought to Logs-Town, another Council was held, conſiſting of the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawoneſe, who unanimouſly agreed to divide themſelves into Two Parties, One to go to Virginia, and Pennſylvania, with Scarrooyady, and the other to go with the Half King to the French Commander, who had it in Charge to make the following Declaration, as their third and laſt Notice.

The Third Notice, delivered by the Half King to the Commander of the French Forces. Father,

You ſay you cannot come to our Council Fire at Logs-Town, we therefore now come to you, to know what is in your Heart. You remember when you were tired with the War (meaning Queen Anne's War) you of your own Accord ſent for us, deſiring to make Peace with us; when we came, you ſaid to us, Children, we make a Council Fire for You; we want to talk with you, but we muſt firſt eat all with one Spoon out of this Silver Bowl, and all drink out of this Silver Cup; let us exchange Hatchets; let us bury our Hatchets in this bottomleſs Hole; and now we will make a plain Road to all your Countries, ſo clear, that Onontio may ſit here and ſee you all eat and drink out of the Bowl and Cup, which he has provided for you. Upon this Application of yours we conſented to make Peace; and when the Peace was concluded on both Sides, you made a ſolemn Declaration, ſaying, Whoever ſhall hereafter tranſgreſs this Peace, let the Tranſgreſſor be chaſtiſed with a Rod, even tho' it be I, your Father.

Now, Father, notwithſtanding this ſolemn Declaration of yours, you have whipped ſeveral of your Children; you know beſt why. Of late You have chaſtiſed the Twightwees very ſeverely, without telling us the Reaſon; and now you are come with a ſtrong Band on our Land, and have, contrary to your Engagement, taken up the Hatchet without any previous Parley. Theſe Things are a Breach of the Peace; they are contrary to your own Declarations: Therefore, now I come to forbid you. I will ſtrike over all this Land with my Rod, let it hurt who it will. I tell you, in plain Words, you muſt go off this Land. You ſay you have a ſtrong Body, a ſtrong Neck, and a ſtrong Voice, that when you ſpeak all the Indians muſt hear you. It is true, You are a ſtrong Body, and ours is but weak, yet we are not afraid of You. We forbid you to come any further; turn back to the Place from whence you came.

SCARROOYADY, who was the Speaker in theſe Conferences, when he had finiſhed this Relation, gave his Reaſon for ſetting forth theſe three Meſſages to the French in ſo diſtinct a manner; becauſe, ſaid he, the Great Being who lives above, has ordered us to ſend three Meſſages of Peace before we make War: — And as the Half King has, before this Time, delivered the third and laſt Meſſage, we have nothing now to do but to ſtrike the French.

THE Commiſſioners were likewiſe informed, by Mr. Croghan, that the Ohio Indians had received from the Virginia Government at large Number of Arms in the Spring, and that at their preſſing Inſtances a ſuitable Quantity of Ammunition was ordered in the Treaty at Winchester to be lodged for them, in a Place of Security, on this Side the Ohio, which was committed to the Care of three Perſons, viz. Gueſt, William Trent, and Andrew Montour, who were impowered to diſtribute them to the Indians as their Occaſions and Behaviour ſhould require. That all the Tribes ſettled at or near Allegheny would, take their Measures from the Encouragement which the • e Indians ſhould find in the Province of Virginia; and that the kind Intentions of this Government in the Appropriation of a large Sum of Money for the Uſe of theſe Indians, in caſe they ſhould be diſtreſſed by their Enemies, and their Hunting and Planting prevented, were well known to them by the repeated Informations of Andrew Montour and the Traders.

CONRAD WEISER, to whom it was earneſtly recommended by the Commiſſioners, to procure all the Information poſſible from the Indians of his Acquaintance, touching their Condition and Diſpoſition, and the real Deſigns of the French, did likewiſe acquaint us, that all Perſons at Ohio would have their Eyes on the Reception of thoſe Indians, now at Carliſle, and judge of the Affection of this Province by their Treatment of them: and that as the intended Preſent was no Secret to thoſe Indians, it was his Opinion, that the Whole ſhould, at this Time, be diſtributed; for if any Thing can, ſuch a generous Donation muſt needs attach the Indians entirely to the Engliſh.

THESE ſeveral Matters being taken into Conſideration by the Commiſſioners, and the Governor having given them expreſs Directions to accommodate themſelves to the Circumſtances of the Indians, as they ſhould appear in examining them at the Place of Treaty, we were unanimouſly of Opinion, that an Addition ſhould be made to the Goods bought at Philadelphia, in which a Regard ſhould be had to ſuch Articles as were omitted or ſupplied in leſs Quantities than was ſuitable to the preſent Wants of the Indians. On this Reſolution the Liſts of Goods were examined, and an additional Quantity bought of John Carſon, at the Philadelphia Price, and uſual Rate of Carriage.

DURING theſe Conſultations, it was rumoured that the Half King was returned to Logs-Town, and had received an unſatisfactory Answer, which was confirmed, but not in ſuch Manner as could be poſitively relied on, by a Brother of Andrew Montour, and another Perſon who came directly from Allegheny. This alarmed the Commiſſioners, and made them willing poſtpone Buſineſs till they ſhould know the Certainty thereof, judging, that if the Half King was returned, he would certainly ſend a Meſſenger Expreſs to Carliſle with an Account of what was done by him; and from this the Commiſſioners might take their Meaſures in the Diſtribution of the Preſent.

A LETTER, wrote by Taaf, and Callender, two Indian Traders, dated the twenty-eight Day of September, from a Place ſituate a little on this Side Allegheny River, directed to William Buchannan, was given him in the Morning of the firſt Day of October, and he immediately laid it before the Commiſſioners for their Peruſal. In this Letter an Account is given, that the Half King was returned, and had been received in a very contemptuous Manner by the French Commander, who was then preparing with his Forces to come down the River; and that the Half King, on his Return, ſhed Tears, and had actually warned the Engliſh Traders not to paſs the Ohio, nor to venture either their Perſons or their Goods, for the French would certainly hurt them. On this News the Conferences with Scarrooyady, and the Chiefs of the Six Nations, Delawares, and Shawoneſt, were renewed, and the Letter read to them, at which they appeared greatly alarmed; but, after a ſhort Pauſe, Scarrooyady, addreſſing himſelf to the Delawares and Shawoneſe, ſpoke in theſe Words:

Brethren and Couſins,

I LOOK on this Letter as if it had been a Meſſage from the Half King himſelf: We may expect no other Account of the Reſult of his Journey. However, I adviſe you to be ſtill, and neither ſay nor do any Thing till we get Home, and I ſee my Friend and Brother the Half King, and then we ſhall know what is to be done.

THE Forms of the Condolances, which depend entirely on Indian Cuſtoms, were ſettled in Conferences with Scarrooyady; and Cayanguileguoa, a ſenſible Indian, of the Mohock Nation, and a Perſon intimate with and much conſulted by Scarrooyady, in which it was agreed to take the Six Nations along with us in theſe Condolances; and accordingly the proper Belts and Strings were made ready, and Scarrooyady prepared himſelf to expreſs the Sentiments of both in the Indian Manner. And as the Goods arrived this Morning before Break of Day, the ſeveral Sorts uſed on thoſe Occaſions were laid out; and the Indians were told that the Commiſſioners would ſpeak to them at Eleven a Clock.

At a Meeting of the Commiſſioners, and Indians, at Carliſle, the firſt Day of October, 1753.

PRESENT, Eſquires, Commiſſioners. RICHARD PETERS, ISAAC NORRIS, BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, The Deputies of the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats. Interpreters. CONRAD WEISER, ANDREW MONTOUR, Eſquires, Members of Aſſembly. JAMES WRIGHT, JOHN ARMSTRONG, The Magiſtrates, and ſeveral other Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Cumberland.

The SPEECH of the Commiſſioners.

Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

THOUGH the City of Philadelphia be the Place where all Indians ſhould go, who have Buſineſs to tranſact with this Government, yet at your Requeſt, ſignified to Colonel Fairfax, at Wincheſter, and by him communicated to our Governor, by an Expreſs to Philadelphia, he has been pleaſed on this particular occaſion to diſpenſe with your coming there, and has done us the Honour to depute us to receive and treat with you at this Town, in his Place and Stead; this is ſet forth in his Commiſſion, which we now produce to you, under the Great Seal of this Province, the authentick Sign and Teſtimony of all Acts of Government.

Brethren,

By this String we acquaint you, that the Six Nations do, at our Requeſt, join with us in condoling the Loſſes you have of late ſuſtained by the Deaths of ſeveral of your Chiefs and principal Men; and that that Scarrooyady is to be deliver for both what has been agreed to be ſaid on this melancholy Occaſion.

Here the Commiſſioners gave a String of Wampum. Then Scarryooyady ſpoke as follows:

Brethren, the Twightwees and Shawoneſe,

IT has pleaſed Him who is above, that we ſhall meet here To-day, and ſee one another; I and my Brother Onas join together to ſpeak to you. As we know that your Seats at Home are bloody, we wipe away the Blood, and ſet your Seats in Order at your Council Fire, that you may ſit and conſult again in Peace and Comfort as formerly; that You may hold the antient Union, and ſtrengthen it, and continue your old friendly Correſpondence.

Here a String was given.

Brethren, Twightwees, and Shawoneſe,

WE ſuppoſe that the Blood is now waſhed off. We jointly, with our Brother Onas, dig a Grave for your Warriors, killed in your Country; and we bury their Bones decently; wrapping them up in theſe Blankets; and with theſe we cover their Graves.

Here the Goods were given to the Twightwees, and Shawoneſe.

Brethren, Twightwees, and Shawoneſe,

I, and my Brother Onas, jointly condole with the Chiefs of your Towns, your Women and Children, for the Loſs you have ſuſtained. We partake of your Grief, and mix our Tears with yours. We wipe your Tears from your Eyes, that you may ſee the Sun, and that every Thing may become clear and pleaſant to your Sight; and we deſire you would mourn no more.

Here a Belt was given.

THE ſame was ſaid to the Delawares, mutatis mutandis.

And then he ſpoke to the Owendats, in theſe Words:

Our Children, and Brethren, the Owendats,

You have heard what I and my Brother Onas have jointly ſaid to the Twightwees, Shawoneſe, and Delawares: We now come to ſpeak to you. We are informed that your good old wiſe Men are all dead, and you have no more left.

We muſt let you know, that there was a Friendſhip eſtabliſhed by our and your Grandfathers; and a mutual Council Fire was kindled. In this Friendſhip all thoſe then under the Ground, who had •• t yet obtained Eyes or Faces (that is, thoſe unborn) were included; and • t was then mutually promiſed to tell the ſame to their Children, and Childrens Children: But ſo many great Men of your Nation have died in ſo ſhort a Time, that none but Youths are left; and this makes us afraid, leſt that Treaty, ſo ſolemnly eſtabliſhed by your Anceſtors, ſhould be forgotten by you: We therefore now come to remind you of it, and renew it; we re-kindle the old Fire, and put on freſh Fuel.

Here a String was given.

THE other Speeches, of burying the Dead, &c. were the ſame as thoſe to the Twightwees, &c:

AFTER each had been ſpoken to, Scarrooyady proceeded thus:

Brethren, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

WE, the Engliſh, and Six Nations, do now exhort every one of you to do your utmoſt to preſerve this Union and Friendſhip, which has ſo long and happily continued among us: Let us keep the Chain from ruſting, and prevent every Thing that may hurt or break it, from what Quarter ſoever it may come.

THEN the Goods alloted for each Nation, as a Preſent of Condolence, were taken away by each, and the Council adjourn'd to the next Day.

At a Meeting of the Commiſſioners, and Indians, at Carliſle, the 2d of October, 1753.

PRESENT, The C •••••• ioners, The ſame Indians as Yesterday, The Magiſtrates, and ſeveral Gentlemen of the County.

The SPEECH of the Commiſſioners.

Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

NOW that your Hearts are eaſed of their Grief, and we behold one another with chearful Countenances, we let you know that the Governor, and good People of Pennſylvania, did not ſend us to receive you empty-handed; but put ſomething into our Pockets, to be given to ſuch as ſhould favour us with this friendly Viſit: Theſe Goods we therefore requeſt you would accept of, and divide amongſt all that are of your Company, in ſuch Proportions as ſhall be agreeable to you. You Know how to do this better than we. What we principally deſire, is, that you will conſider this Preſent as a Token of our cordial Eſteem for You; and uſe it with a Frugality becoming your Circumſtances, which call at this Time for more than ordinary Care.

Brethren,

WITH Pleaſure we behold here the Deputies of five different Nations, viz. the United Six Nations, the Delawares, the Shawoneſe, the Twightwees, and the Owendats. Be pleaſed to caſt your Eyes towards this Belt, whereon ſix Figures are deleniated, holding one another by the Hands. This is a juſt Reſemblance of our preſent Union: The five firſt Figures repreſenting the five Nations, to which you belong, as the ſixth does the Government of Pennſylvania; with whom You are linked in a cloſe and firm Union. In whatever Part the Belt is broke, all the Wampum runs off, and renders the Whole of no Strength or Conſiſtency. In like Manner, ſhould you break Faith with one another, or with this Government, the Union is di •• olved. We would therefore hereby place before you the Neceſſity of preſerving your Faith entire to one another, as well as to this Government. Do not ſeperate: Do not part on any Score. Let no Differences nor Jealouſies ſubſiſt a Moment between Nation and Nation: but join all together as one Man, ſincerely and heartily. We on our Part ſhall always perform our Engagements to every one of you. In Teſtimony whereof, we preſent you with this Belt.

Here the Belt was given.

Brethren,

We have only this one Thing further to ſay at this Time: Whatever Anſwers you may have to give, or Buſineſs to tranſact with us, we deſire you would uſe Dispatch; as it may be dangerous to you, and incommodious to us, to be kept long from our Homes, at this Seaſon of the Year.

At a Meeting of the Commiſſioners, and Indians, the 3d Day of October, 1753.

PRESENT, The Commiſſioners, The ſame Indians as before. Several Gentlemen of the County.

Scarrooyady, Speaker.

Brother Onas,

WHAT we have now to ſay, I am going to ſpeak, in Behalf of the Twightwees, Shawoneſe, Delawares, and Owendats.

You have, like a true and affectionate Brother, comforted Us in our Affliction. You have wiped away the Blood from our Seats, and ſet them again in Order. You have wrapped up the Bones of our Warriors, and covered the Graves of our wiſe Men; and wiped the Tears from our Eyes, and the Eyes of our Women and Children: So that we now ſee the Sun, and all Things are become pleaſant to our Sight. We ſhall not fail to acquaint our ſeveral Nations with your Kindneſs. We ſhall take Care that it be always remembered by us; and believe it will be attended with ſuitable Returns of Love and Affection.

Then One of the Twightwees ſtood up, and ſpoke as follows: (Scarrooyady Interpreter.)

Brother Onas,

THE Ottawas, Cheepaways, and the French, have ſtruck us. — The Stroke was heavy, and hard to be born, for thereby we loſt our King, and ſeveral of our Warriors; but the Loſs our Brethren, the English ſuffered, we grieve for moſt. The Love we have had for the Engliſh, from our firſt Knowledge of them, ſtill continues in our Breaſts; and we ſhall ever retain the ſame ardent Affection for them. — We cover the Graves of the Engliſh with this Beaver Blanket. We mourn for them more than for our own People.

Here he ſpread on the Floor ſome Beaver Skins, ſewed together in the Form of a large Blanket. Then Scarrooyady ſpoke as follows:

Brother Onas,

I SPEAK now on Behalf of all the Indians preſent, in anſwer to what you ſaid when you gave us the Goods and Belt. What you have ſaid to us Yeſterday is very kind, and pleaſes us exceedingly. The Speech which accompanied the Belt, is particularly of great Moment. We will take the Belt home to Ohio, where there is a greater and wiſer Council than us, and conſider it, and return you a full Anſwer. We return you Thanks for the Preſent.

Gave a String.

Brother Onas,

LAST Spring, when you heard of the March of the French Army, you were ſo good as to ſend us word, that we might be on our Guard; We thank you for this friendly Notice.

Brother Onas,

YOUR People not only trade with us in our Towns, but diſperſe themſelves over a large and wide extended Country, in which reſide many Nations; At one End live the Twightwees, and at the other End the Caghnawagas, and Adirondacks: theſe you muſt comprehend in your Chain of Friendſhip: they are, and will be, your Brethren, let Onontio ſay what he will.

Gave a String.

Brother Onas,

I desire you would hear and take Notice of what I am about to ſay now. The Governor of Virginia deſired leave to build a ſtrong House on Ohio, which came to the Ears of the Governor of Canada; and we ſuppose this caused him to invade our Country. We do not know his Intent; becauſe he ſpeaks with two Tongues. So ſoon as we know his Heart, we ſhall be able to know what to do; and ſhall ſpeak accordingly to him. We deſire that Pennsylvania and Virginia would at preſent forbear ſettling on our Lands, over the Allegheny Hills. We advise you rather to call your People back on this side of the Hills, leſt Damage ſhould be done, and you think i • l of us. But to keep up our Correspondence with our Brother Onas, we will appoint ſome Place on the Hills, or near them; and we 〈◊〉 appoint George 〈◊〉 on our Part, and deſire you to appoint another on your Part, by a formal writing, under the Governor's Hand. Let none of your People ſettle beyond where they are now; 〈◊〉 on the 〈◊〉 Lands, till the Affair is ſettled between us and the French. At preſent, George 〈◊〉 's Houſe, at Juniata, may be the Place where any Thing may be ſent to us. We deſire a Commiſſion may be given to the Perſon entruſted by the Government of Pennſylvania; and that he may be directed to warn People from ſettling the Indian Lands, and empowered to remove them.

Gave a Belt and String.

Brother Onas,

All we who are here deſ ••• you will hear what we are going to ſay, and regard it as a Matter of Moment: The French look on the great Number of your Traders at Ohio with Envy; they fear they ſhall loſe their Trade. You have more Traders than are neceſſary; and they ſpread themſelves over our wide Country, at ſuch great Diſtances, that we cannot ſee them, or protect them. We deſire you will call back the great Number of your Traders, and let only three Setts of Traders remain, and order theſe to ſtay in three Places, which we have appointed for their Residence, viz. L • gs-Town, the Mouth 〈…〉 , and the Mouth of 〈◊〉 : the Indians will then come to them, and buy their Goods in theſe Places, and no where elſe. We ſhall likewiſe look on them under our Care, and ſhall be accountable for them. We have ſettled this Point with Virginia in the ſame Manner.

Gave a String.

Brother Onas,

THE Engliſh Goods are ſold at too dear a Rate to us. If only honeſt and ſober Men were to deal with us, we think they might afford the Goods cheaper: We deſire, there •• re, that you will take 〈…〉 , that none but 〈…〉 .

Gave a String.

Brother Onas,

YOUR Traders now bring ſcarce any Thing but Rum and 〈…〉 Lead, or other valuable Goods. The Rum ruins us. We beg 〈…〉 prevent its coming 〈…〉 Quantities, by regulating the Traders. We never underſtood 〈◊〉 Trade was to be for 〈…〉 Flour. We deſire it may be forbidden, and none ſold in the 〈◊〉 Country; but that if the 〈…〉 will have any: they may go among the Inhabitants, and 〈…〉 Traders come, they bring thirty or 〈◊〉 Cag • and put them down before us, and make us drink; and get all the Skins that ſhould go to pay the Debts we have contracted for Goods bought of the Fair Traders; and by this Means, we not only ruin ourſelves but them too. Theſe wicked Whiskey Sellers, when they have once got the Indians 〈◊〉 Liquor, make them ſell their very ••• thes from their Backs. — In ſhort, if the Practice be continued, we muſt be inevitably ruined. We moſt earneſtly therefore beſeech you to remedy it.

A treble String.

Brother Onas,

I HAVE now done with generals; but have ſomething to ſay for particular Nations.

THE Shawoneſe heard ſome News ſince they came here, which troubled their Minds; on which they addreſſed themſelves to their Grandfathers, the Delawares; and ſaid, Grandfathers, we will live and die with you, and the Six Nations: We, our Wives and Children; and Children yet unborn.

N. B. This was occaſioned by Conrad Weiſer's having told them in private Converſation, that while he was in the Mohock Country, he was informed, that the French intended to drive away the Shawoneſe (as well as the Engliſh) from Ohio.

SCARROOYADY then proceeded, and ſaid, I have ſomething further to ſay on Behalf of the Shawoneſe.

Brother Onas,

At the Beginning of the Summer, when the News was brought to us, of the Approach of the French, the Shawoneſe made this Speech to their Uncles, the Delawares, ſaying, "Uncles, you have often told us, that we were a ſenſible and diſcreet People; but we loſt all our Senſe and Wits, when we ſlipp'd out of your Arms; however, we are now in one another's Arms again, and hope we ſhall ſlip out no more. We remember, and are returned to our former Friendſhip, and hope it will always continue. In Teſtimony whereof, we give you, our Uncles, a String of Ten Rows."

THE Shawoneſe likewiſe, at the ſame time, ſent a Speech to the Six Nations, ſaying, "Our Brethren, the Engliſh, have treated us as People that had Wit: The French deceived us: But we now turn our Heads about, and are looking perpetually to the Country of the Six Nations, and our Brethren, the Engliſh, and deſire you to make an Apology for us; and they gave eight Strings of Wampum."

Commiſſi.

Have you any Thing at preſent further to offer?

Indians.

We have done.

Commiſſioners.

Friends and Brethren,

WHEN we met you in Conference Yeſterday, we were in Expectation of ſecing the Norridgawocks at this Place alſo; but as they do not appear, we would remind you of one Article ſtipulated and confirmed the laſt Year, which hath not been complied withal: We mean the Return of our Captives.

Altho' we do not immediately charge YOU of this Tribe with this Neglect, yet you can't but remember the Commiſſioners were aſſured the laſt Year, that the Parents who had their Children then in Captivity might reſt ſatisfied, that they ſhould be returned them in the Spring following, at furtheſt; And as this Promiſe was made by the Norridgawocks when you were preſent, you engaged that you would endeavour that the ſveral Articles of Peace then rehewod (of which this was one) ſhould be complied with by the Norridgawocks, as well as your ſelves; yet we muſt inform you, that after all attempts for their Redemption, Nothing is done; but the Children ſtill remain in the Hands of the French, abho' their Parents have ſince been at the Expence and Trouble of making a tedious Journey to Canada for that Purpoſe.

You find that the Engliſh have faithfully fulfill'd all their Promiſes with the Indians, and therefore juſtly expect the like Return from you; and in Conſequence hereof, that you uſe your beſt Endeavours that all our Captives may be forthwith reſtored, that ſo there may be no further Reaſon for Complaint on this Account.

You informed us Yeſterday that your Miniſter had been attempting to prejudice you againſt the Engliſh, inſinuating that there would ſoon be a War between the two Nations; and thereby would (if poſſible) have prevented your meeting the Commiſſioners at this Time; but that you was jealous of him, and believed him not to be a good Man, becauſe he had wrote to Governor SHIRILY (as you were informed) on this Head. To which we reply, That it is abſolutety falſe and without the leaſt Foundation; for we do aſſure you, that there is at this Time a good Harmony ſubſiſting between the King of Great Britain, and the French King.

The Government of the Maſſachuſetts are fully ſenſible of the Artifices uſed by the French to raiſe Jealouſies and creſte Miſunderſtandings between the Engliſh and the Indians, and of the Methods the French uſe to defeat the Meaſures the Engliſh take for maintaining Peace and good Friendſhip: But as a Proof of our Sincerity, Governor SHIRLEY,

THE following is a Speech of the Wife of the Piankaſha King, after her Huſband's Death,1753. addreſſed to the Shawoneſe, Six Nations, Delawares, and Engliſh: "Remember, Brethren, that my Huſband took a faſt Hold of the Chain of Friendſhip ſubſiſting between your Nations: Therefore I now deliver up his Child into your Care and Protection, and deſire you would take Care of him; and remember the Alliance his Father was in with you, and not forget his Friendſhip, but continue kind to his Child."

Gave four Strings black and white.

Brethren, Shawoneſe, Delawares, Six Nations, and Engliſh,

WE acquaint all our Brethren, that we have prepared this Beaver Blanket as a Seat for all our Brethren to ſit on in Council. In the Middle of it we have painted a green Circle, which is the Colour and Reſemblance of our Hearts; which we deſire our Brethren may believe are ſincere towards our Alliance with them.

Delivered a Beaver Blanket. Then Scarrooyady ſtood up and ſaid:

Brother Onas,

THE Shawoneſe and Delawares delivered this Speech to the Six Nations, and deſired they would deliver it to the Engliſh; and now I deliver it on their Behalf.

Brethren,

WE acquaint you, that as the Wife of the Piankaſha King delivered his Child to all the Nations, to be taken Care of, they deſire that thoſe Nations may be interceeded with, to take care that the ſaid Child may be placed in his Father's Seat, when he comes to be a Man, to rule their People. And the Six Nations now, in Behalf of the Whole, requeſt that this Petition may not be forgot by the English, but that they would ſee the Requeſt fulfilled.

Gave Four Strings.

THEN Scarrooyady deſired the Six Nations Council might be made acquainted with all theſe Speeches: And added, that they had no more to ſay; but what they have ſaid is from their Hearts.

At a Meeting of the Commiſſioners, and Indians, the 4th of October, 1753.

PRESENT, The Commiſſioners, The ſame Indians as before. The Gentlemen of the County.

The Commiſſioners, unwilling to loſe any Time, prepared their Anſwers early this Morning, and ſent for the Indians; who having ſeated themſelves, the following Speech was made to them:

Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

THE ſeveral Matters delivered by you Yeſterday have been well conſidered; and we are now going to return You our Anſwers.

THE Concern expreſſed by the Twightwees for the Death and Impriſonment of the Engliſh, with their Profeſſions of Love and Eſteem, denotes a ſincere and friendly Diſposition, which entitles them to our Thanks, and the Continuance of our Friendſhip; this they may certainly depend on.

Brethren,

YOU have recommended to us the ſeveral Nations, who, you ſay, live in that great Extent of Country, over which our Traders travel to diſpoſe of their Goods, and eſpecially the Twightwees, Adirondacks, and Caghnawagas, who you ſay live at different Extremities, and have good Inclinations towards the Engliſh. — We believe you would not give them this Character unleſs they deſerved it. Your Recommendations always will have a Weight with Us, and will diſpoſe us in Favour of them, agreeable to your Requeſt.

Brethren,

THE ſeveral Articles which contain your obſervations on the Indian Traders, and the looſe ſtragling Manner in which that Trade is carried on, thro' Countries lying at great Diſtances from your Towns — Your Propoſals to remedy this, by having named three Places for the Traders to reſide in, under your Care and Protection, with a Requeſt, that the Province would appoint the particular Perſon to be concerned in this Trade, for whom they will be anſwerable — What you ſay about the vaſt Quantities of Rum, and its ill Effects, and that no more may be brought a ongſt you; all theſe have made a very ſtrong Impreſſion upon our Minds; and was it now in our Power to rectify theſe Diſorders, and to put Matters on the Footing you propoſe, we would do it with great Pleaſure: But theſe are Affairs which more immediately concern the Government; in theſe therefore, we ſhall imitate your Example, by laying them before the Governor, aſſuring you, that our heartieſt Repreſentations of the Neceſſity of theſe Regulations ſhall not be wanting, being convinced, that unleſs ſomething effectual be ſpeedily done in theſe Matters, the good People of this Province can no longer expect Safety or Profit in their Commerce, nor the Continuance of your Affection.

Brethren,

We will ſend an Account to Onondago of all that has been tranſacted between us.

We will aſſiſt you with Horſes for the Carriage of the Goods given you.

We grant your Women and young Men their Requeſt for Rum, on Condition it be not delivered to them until You ſhall have paſſed the Mountains.

SCARROOYADY ſome Days ago deſired us to give Orders for the Mending of your Guns, &c. and we did ſo; being obliged to ſend for 〈◊〉 Gunſmith out of the Country, as no One of that Trade lived in the Town; who promiſed to come: But having broke his Word, it has not been in our Power to comply with this Requeſt.

Here the String given with the Requeſt was returned.

HAVING delivered our general Anſwer, we ſhall now proceed to give one to what was ſaid by particular Nations, as well by the Shawoneſe in the Forenoon, as by the Twightwees in the Afternoon.

Brethren, Delawares, and Shawoneſe,

We are glad to ſee you in ſuch good Diſpoſitions to each other. We entreat you to do every Thing you can to preſerve the Continuance of this agreeable Harmony. The Shawoneſe may be aſſured we retain no Manner of Remembrance of their former Miſcarriages: We are perfectly reconciled, and our Eſteem for their Nation is the ſame as ever.

Gave a large String.

Brethren, Twightwees,

We ſhall take your ſeveral Preſents, Shells, Strings, Beaver, Blanket, and Calumet Pipe, with us, and deliver them to the Governor; that theſe and the ſeveral Things ſaid at the Delivery of them, may remain in the Council Chamber, at Philadelphia, for our mutual Uſe and Remembrance, whenever it ſhall pleaſe the Great Being, who ſits above, to bring us together in Council again.

Gave a long String.

Brethren,

WE deſire you will ſend theſe two Strouds to the young King, as an Acknowledgment of our affectionate Remembrance of his Father's Love to us, and of our Good-will to him.

BE pleaſed to preſent to the Widow of the Piankaſha King, our late hearty Friend, theſe Handkerchiefs, to wipe the Tears from her Eyes; and likewiſe give her Son theſe two Strowds to clothe him.

Here two Handkerchiefs and two Strands were given.

Brethren Twightwees,

WE aſſure you we entertain no hard Thoughts of you; nor in any wiſe impute to you the Misfortune that befel the Engliſh in your Town; it was the Chance of War: We were ſtruck together; we fell together; and we lament your Loſs equally with our own.

Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

WE have now finiſhed our Anſwers; and We hope they will be agreeable to you: Whatever we have ſaid, has been with a hearty Good-will towards you; our Hearts have accompanied our Profeſſions, and you will always find our Actions agreeable to them. Then the Commiſſioners were ſilent; and after a Space of Time, renewed their Speeches to them.

Brethren, Six Nations, Delawares, Shawoneſe, Twightwees, and Owendats,

WE have ſomething to ſay to you, to which we entreat you will give your cloſeſt Attention, ſince it concerns both us and You very much.

Brethren,

WE have held a Council on the preſent Situation of your Affairs. We have Reaſon to think, from the Advices of Taaf and Callender, that it would be too great a Riſque, conſidering the preſent Diſorder Things are in at Ohio, to encreaſe the Quantity of Goods already given you: We therefore acquaint you, that, though the Governor has furniſhed us with a larger Preſent of Goods, to put into your publick Store houſe, as a general Stock, for your Support and Service, and we did intend to have ſent them along with you; we have, on this late diſagreeable Piece of News, altered our Minds, and determined, that the Goods ſhall not be delivered till the Governor be made acquainted with your preſent Circumſtances, and ſhall give his own Orders for the Diſpoſal of them. And that they may lie ready for your Uſe, to be applied for, whenever the Delivery may be ſafe, ſeaſonable, and likely to do you the moſt Service; we have committed them to the Care of your good Friend George Croghan, who is to tranſmit to the Governor, by Expreſs, a true and faithful Account how your Matters are likely to turn out; and on the Governor's Order, and not otherwiſe, to put you into the Poſſeſſion of them.

THIS we hope you will think a prudent Caution, and a Teſtimony of our Care for your real good and Welfare.

Brethren,

WE have a Favour of a particular Nature to requeſt from your Speaker, Scarrooyady, in which we expect your Concurrence, and joint Intereſt; and therefore make it to him in your Preſence.

Here the Commiſſioners applying to Scarrooyady, ſpoke as follows:

Reſpected Chief and Brother Scarrooyady,

We have been informed by Andrew Montour, and George Croghan, that you did at Wincheſter, in publick Council, undertake to go to C • rdina, to ſollicit the Releaſe of ſome Warriors of the Shawoneſe Nation, who are ſaid to be detained in the Publick Priſon of Charles-Town, on Account of ſome Miſchief committed by them, or their Companions, in the inhabited Part of that Province; and theſe two Perſons, who are your very good Friends, have given it as their Opinion, if, after you know what has paſſed at Ohio, you ſhall now leave this Company of Indians, and not return with them to their Families, and aſſiſt in the Conſultations with the Half King, and their other Chiefs, what Meaſures to take in this unhappy Situation of your Affairs, all may be irrecoverably loſt at Allegheny, and the Loſs with Juſtice be laid at your Door. You may, perhaps, be afraid to diſoblige the Shawoneſe, as it was at their Inſtance you undertook this Journey; but we intend to ſpeak to them, and have no Doubt of obtaining their Conſent; convinc'd as we are, that the Releaſe of theſe Priſoners will be ſo ••• and more effectually procur'd by the joint Interpoſition of the Governors of Pennſylvania and Virginia, than by your perſonal Sollicitation; in as much as our Governor, to whom we ſhall very heartily recommend this Affair, can ſend, with greater Diſpatch, his Letters to • span, than you can perform the Journey; for at this Seaſon, Opportunities preſent every Day of ſending by Sea to Charles-Town; and an Expreſs by Land may be diſpatched to Governor Dinwiddie, as ſoon as we return to Philadelphia.

Gave a String.

THE Shawoneſe Chiefs expreſſing Diſſatisfaction at this Endeavour of the Commiſſioners to ſtop Scarrooyady, it gave us ſome Trouble to ſatisfy them, and obtain their Conſent; but at laſt it was effected; and when this was ſignified to Scarrooyady, he made this Anſwer.

Brother Onas,

I WILL, take your Advice, and not go to Virginia at this Time, — but go Home, and do every Thing in my Power for the common Good. And ſince we are here now together, with a great deal of Pleaſure I muſt acquaint you, that we have ſet a Horn on Andrew Montour's Head, and that you may believe what he ſays to be true, between the Six Nations and you, they have made him one of their Counſellors, and a great Man among them, and love him dearly.

Scarrooyady gave a large Belt to Andrew Montour, and the Commiſſioners agreed to it.

AFTER this Difficulty was got over, nothing elſe remained to be done; and as the Abſence of theſe Indians was dangerous, the Commiſſioners put an End to the Treaty, and took their Leave of them, making private Preſents at parting, to ſuch of the Chiefs, and others, as were recommended by the Interpreters to their particular Notice.

THUS, may it pleaſe the Governor, we have given a full and juſt Account of all our Proceedings, and we hope our Conduct will meet with his Approbation. But, in Juſtice to theſe Indians, and the Promiſes we made them, we cannot cloſe our Report, without taking Notice, That the Quantities of ſtrong Liquors ſold to theſe Indians in the Places of their Reſidence, and during their Hunting Seaſon, from all Parts of the Counties over Saſquehannah, have encreaſed of late to an inconceivable Degree, ſo as to keep theſe poor Indians continually under the Force of Liquor, that they are hereby become diſſolute, enfeebled and indolent when ſober, and untractable and miſchevious in their Liquor, always quarreling, and often murdering one another: That the Traders are under no Bonds, nor give any Security for their Obſervance of the Laws, and their good Behaviour; and by their own Intemperance, unfair Dealings, and Irregularities, will, it is to be feared, entirely eſtrange the Affections of the Indians from the Engliſh, deprive them of their natural Strength and Activity, and oblige them either to abandon their Country, or ſubmit to any Terms, be they ever ſo unreaſonable, from the French. Theſe Truths, may it pleaſe the Governor, are of ſo intereſting a Nature, that we ſhall ſtand excuſed in recommending in the moſt earneſt Manner, the deplorable State of theſe Indians, and the heavy Diſcouragements under which our Commerce with them at preſent labours, to the Governor's moſt ſerious Conſideration, that ſome good and ſpeedy Remedies may be provided, before it be too late.

RICHARD PETERS, ISAAC NORRIS, BENJ. FRANKLIN. November 1, 1753.