WE take the earliest opportunity after our being met together to give your excellency notice of it; and this we look upon to be the more necessary since our conversing upon the subject of a future congress has occasioned an alteration of the place of meeting. An alteration of place proposed. A change in every respect so much more convenient to us, will, we flatter ourselves, not be otherwise to you; the distance will, we understand, be the same, and the accommodations no doubt better: It was the intention of some of us to have gone up Savannah river by water, but the tediousness of that passage has deterred us, Difficulty of go­ing by water, as the difficulty, if not impractica­bility, Or by land, to Augusta. of conveying ourselves, and the necessary conveniencies, by land, has made us lay aside all thoughts of this also. The behaviour of some of the Indians to the king's subjects, And the ill beha­viour of the Indians, point out the pro­priety of the altera­tion. and their ill disposition towards one another, points out too the propriety, of assembling them at some place where they will be under a greater check and controul, than they would be in so straggling and ill-settled a place as Augusta: but with regard to the Indians themselves, we imagine the alteration will not be disagreeable; they were before apprised that Augusta was pitched upon, Small-pox in Ca­rolina, the reason why Augusta was at first proposed. because the small-pox was in Carolina; that disorder having long since ceased, will be reason therefore sufficient to assign for the change of place. The Chactahs, That obstacle now removed. Chicasahs and Catawbas, are not at all likely to make objections; the Cherokees are extremely averse to going to Augusta; and if the Creeks should entertain any jealousy, the superintendent will no doubt be able to convince them, that nothing is intended by the change of place, but to render the meeting more commodious to the governors, some of which have already come a great way, and will suffer unavoidably by proceeding farther. Capt. Stuart will either lodge the presents at Augusta, or order them back again, as may appear to him the most proper, when he has sounded the Indians on this subject. We should have been glad, if time would have permitted to have known your sentiments upon this alteration; but the day appointed draws so near, that capt. Stuart thinks it proper to set off on thursday, in order to be ready to receive such Indians as may arrive. We are,

I HAVE just received yours of the 4th instant, acquainting me with an intended alteration of the place of meeting to hold the future congress. The change, if to be in Charles-Town, is certainly more convenient and agreeable to you, and it ever gives me pleasure, when, in executing any part of my duty, I can do it in such manner as may be most agreeable to those concerned; though I must observe, that the difficulties thrown in the way, I conceive (on a trial) would not have proved so great as represented or imagined. Who represents Augusta as a pl [...]n­ti [...]. The place affords sufficient houses, plenty of provisions, and accommodations of every kind, though not so elegant as in Charles-Town. As to any particular conve­nience or inconvenience to myself, I set that quite out of the question where his majesty's service interferes; and although some, very few, of the upper Creek have misbehaved lately, yet I am fully persuaded, the meeting at Augusta would have been perfectly safe, and all parties secure from danger. I wish the Creeks, &c. And safe pl [...]. may be prevailed on to proceed any further than Augusta, but doubt very much whether they will. Mr. Stuart, in his letter to me, does not mention the least difficulty or objection made by the Cherokees against Augusta, but that they had received his invitation with the greatest cordiality and joy. And I should suppose the Chactahs and Chicasahs would have no objections to a saving of three hundred miles travelling. You have omitted to mention the place, only in a postscript say, "the Indians will be ordered to Dorchester." The time I presume is now uncertain; but, when you are pleased to inform me of that and the place, I shall certainly attend, if health permits. And proposes to attend, when the time, &c. is [...]. With respect to any reasons that may be given to the Indians, or directions about the presents, or my sentiments on the propriety of the alteration, it's needless for me to give any opinion on matters predetermined. I shall only say, that I still think the king's intentions might be more effectually executed at Augusta. I am, with great regard, Gentlemen,

Letter to gover­nor Wright.

WE have this morning been favoured with your letter of the 8th instant, upon which we think it just necessary to observe, that Augusta, its ac­commodations and security, must have been misrepresented to us; and besides, that the getting there at all, Difficulty of get­ing to Augusts very great. with the least degree of convenience to ourselves, was scarce possible. Mr. Stuart might have omitted acquainting your excellency with the disinclination of the Cherokees to meet at Augusta, The Cherokees disinclined to meet there, and propose Saludy old-town for the congress. in consequence of two of their nation being killed by the Creeks; but they expressed it strongly to him, proposed Saludy old-town for the congress, and determined to wait on the path in hopes of an alteration of place. We are in great hopes, that the late outrages committed by the upper Creeks are not the acts of the nation in general; Observations on the conduct of the Creek Indians. but, if the generality were well inclined, they would either prevent, or punish, such frequent repetitions of insolence and murder. A letter of the 4th instant, which governor Boone has received from Augusta, Information re­ceived that the Up­per-Creeks would not come at all. says, that none of the Creeks will be there, at the congress; if this was their resolution before the place of meeting was changed, it looks as if they could not hope, that their offences would be forgiven them: With regard to the Chactahs and Chicasahs, they are already on their route; Indians in general [...] not d [...]stance [...] expectation [...]. we all know, that two or three hundred miles to an Indian, is nothing, when he is in expectation of either rewards or revenge; and they frequently come that distance uninvited, and upon an uncertainty. We before declared, how agreeable it would have been to us, to have consulted you upon the alteration, if time would have permitted: We now express our hopes, that your arrival here, or in Dorchester, the place appointed for the congress, will be as soon as possible, that every thing may be concerted previous to the coming of the Indians; and we flatter ourselves, that, by the assistance we shall be able to give each other, that the king's instructions wlll be executed faithfully, effectually, and with dispatch. We are,

Lett [...] from go­vernor Wright.

LAST night I received a letter, sent by an express, from Augusta, informing me, He says, the Wolf king is gone to Pen­sacola—a bad omen▪ that the Wolf king was gone to Pensacola, to make some demands relative to the ceded lands; and giving an account of the situation of affairs in the upper Creeks, which, to say no more, I think have not a very pleasing aspect, Calls his council, on the present criti­cal situation of In­dian affairs. and made me determine to call the gentlemen of the council together, for their opinion on the present appearance of things amongst the Indians, and what may be most proper to be done, for his majesty's service in general, and the safety of this province in particular, in case Mr. Stuart cannot prevail on the Creeks to proceed to Dorchester or Charles-Town. My last, by Joyner, I wrote immediately on the receipt of yours, on a supposition, and in hopes, that Mr. Stuart might prevail with the Creeks to proceed down: but, on the receipt of my letters last night, I began to reflect more fully on the consequence of their refusing to go any further; and the more I reflect on the critical situation of affairs with these Indians, Much evil to be expected, if the In­dians return in dis­gust. the more I am convinced of the danger that, in all probability, will attend their returning home disgusted; and I very much fear they will not go down to Dorchester; they are not in a situation or humour to follow orders.—Nay, I am apprehensive, if they should hear of an intention to carry them down to Charles-Town, they will not come even to Augusta, and therefore I have now wrote to lieutenant Barnard and Mr. Galphin, desiring them to give Mr. Stuart their best assistance in the affair — Gentlemen at a distance, may not see or consider this matter in the light it strikes me; and a Creek war, may be as litle felt in Virginia, as the northern massacres are in this province; our commiseration is of little service to those who feel and suffer; even North and South Carolina would feel little or nothing of [...] rupture with the Creeks, in comparison of this province: I must therefore consider this matter in a more serious light than you may; and, it is to be presumed, I am better acquainted with their situation, and our own, than gentlemen at a greater distance. And his majesty's council are unanimously and clearly of opinion, The council ad­vise him to meet the savages at Augusta. that, should the Creek Indians refuse to go down to Charles-Town, and return back from Augusta displeased, at this critical conjuncture, it might be productive of the worst consequences, to his majesty's service in general, and the safety of this province in particular; and therefore, in order to prevent, if possible, the dangers that may attend their returning disgusted, have advised me, in case the Indians refuse to proceed to Charles-Town, to meet them at Augusta, as the best, if not the only, method, to prevent further misunderstandings with them, and to promote his majesty's most gracious intentions, and establishing peace and friendship with them on a more firm basis.

This advice entirely coincides with my own opinion; and I judge it altogether expedient for me to go up to Augusta to meet them, He agrees with his council in that point. in case they will not proceed to Charles-Town, and can be prevailed on to wait at Augusta.

I send a person express to acquaint your excellencies with this matter. If the Indians in general go to Charles-Town, I shall attend the congress there: If they will not go, it then seems absolutely necessary for me to proceed to Augusta, [Page 8] where I shall give them a talk; And proposes to give the Indians a talk there, and also a share of presents. and proceed further with them, according as I find them authorized by the nation or not, and as things may be circumstanced; in which Mr. Stuart may join if he pleases. If this event should happen, I doubt not but you will join in opinion, that a proportion of the presents his majesty has been graciously pleased to send out on this occasion, will be necessary to give them. I have sent an express to Augusta, and wrote to Mr. Stuart on the subject. The bearer has orders to wait a day for any commands you may have. I am,

Letter to governor Wright.

WE are this moment favoured with your letter of the 11th, by express; and, after having seriously considered it, find no fresh intelligence but what our letter of yesterday observed upon; nor conceive a difficulty or objection to be started by the Creeks, The Creeks objec­tion to meet at Dor­chester, balanced by the Cherokees disli­king Augusta. against coming to Dorchester, but what may, and, according to our information, will be urged by the Cherokees, against their going to Augusta; this, in great measure, induced us to change the place appointed. The superintendent, The superintendent, supposed to be the best judge of the dis­position of Indians, approved the change of place. who is supposed to know the disposition of Indians in general, and from whom we are supposed to receive the information regarding them, so far from advancing reasons against, concurred in, the alteration of place; and we have no sort of doubt, but he will be able to reconcile the lower Creeks (for the upper will not come at all) to the meeting being held at Dorchester, Gov. Wright re­quested to co-ope­rate with the super­intendent to intreat the Indians to come to Dorchester. especially if you should think it adviseable to go to Augusta and give him your assistance, as that will effectually prevent any ill-designing low people from instilling jealousies into the Creeks, merely because i [...] may be more beneficial to them to have the congress at Augusta. You may observe, Sir, that they are not in a humour to follow orders: But if the Creeks, or any, after so solemn an invitation on the part of four provinces, should be either refractory or sulky, we cannot think, they should be either caressed or indulged. On the service we are now ordered by the king, The service of the congress described. it is our duty, and intention, to promote the security and advantage of every colony concerned; nor can this be more effectually done, as we conceive, [Page 9] than by convincing each nation of Indians, that the four southern governors act in concurrence; every expression of kindness will have additional weight, and the danger of breaking with us will be evidently greater; and this is certainly the spirit of the king's intentions: we therefore must beg you to exert your influence with the Creeks, that the congress may, as it was intended, be general. We have not heard from Mr. Stuart since he left this place, so that, at present, we may presume, he sees no further objection, though apprised of all Indian intelli­gence. We send him a copy of your letter, that, when acquainted with your doubts, he may be more attentive to remove every suspicion or umbrage.

Letter to Mr. Stuart.

WE inclose you a copy of a letter we have wrote this morning, in answer to one received from governor Wright, which is also sent you: the sight of both will be a clue to you, how to conduct yourself in the removing every umbrage that may have been taken by, or given to, the Creeks. We depend on your using your utmost influence, in bringing all the invited Indians to the congress at Dorchester, and we have requested Mr. Wright to co-operate with you. It is a material part of your duty, to discover and preve [...] the ill effects of private tamperings, and insinuations thrown out to Indians; and to take care, as far as you are able, that they listen to nothing but what is to be said to them by the persons appointed by the king. You will no doubt set the coming of the two distant governors in its full light and force, and that the sentiments of four provinces will be upon this occasion communicated to them publickly, solemnly, and in presence of one another, that every nation may be apprized of the king's gracious intention towards them.

Letter from Mr. Stuart.Letter from Mr. Stuart, to his excellency Thomas Boone, Esq

I GOT to this fort the 11th current, Only 60 Indians (Catawbas) at Au­gusta, the 11th of October. where I found no other Indians than about sixty Catawbas, including women and children, who had been here about two days before my arrival. On the thirteenth, in the morning, I received a letter, by express, from lieutenant Taylor, dated 10th, referring me to the intelligence contained in the inclosed letter to your excellency, and which I imagine contains full accounts of what passes in that nation. I likewise send a duplicate of the talk sent here from the lower Creeks, by the messenger of whom Mr. Camp­bell wrote you, Little hopes of getting the savages to Dorchester. with lieutenant Barnard's answer; by which your excellency, and the other governors, will be able to judge of their temper, and which gave me bad hopes of success in endeavouring to persuade them to go further. An upper Creek warrior, &c. arrive 14th Oct and with them the Chicasah leader, and a princi­pal headman of the Chactahs. Yesterday in the morning, the upper Creek warrior Mustisicah, with the second man of the Tuckabatchies, and a number of their followers, came here; with them were, the leader of the Chicasahs, Pia-mattah; one considerable leading man of the Chactah nation called Red-Shoes, and about twenty Chicasahs of note, and their followers: Colbert, who had arrived some days before them, informed me, that his reception, in the Chactah nation, had been most friendly; that many of the most considerable amongst them had determined to accompany him down, but upon receiving news that two of their people were killed by the Creeks, Two Chactahs kil­led by the Creeks. none thought proper to venture except this Red-Shoes. Colbert adds, that the treatment which he and the Chicasahs received, Creeks insolent to the Chicasahs & Col­bert their interpreter in their way through the Creek nation, was extremely insolent, and had made those Indians extremely anxious to return home; accordingly, they pressed me much to dispatch them: I invited them to come to the fort this day, Chicasahs, Creeks and Catawbas ac­quainted with the change of place. with the Catawbas and Creeks; I acquainted them with the alteration of the place of meeting proposed, and the reasons for it. The Chicasah leader said, he had come a great way upon my invitation, and found himself disappointed; Chicasah leader re­fuses to go further, yet not displeased. that he was too much tired to go any farther, and should return without taking any thing amiss; that such accidents were often not to be avoided; that he was glad he had seen me; and whenever he should promise me any thing, I might depend upon meeting with no disappoint­ment. The next who spoke, was the second man of the Creeks, who said, that he had come punctually at the time, and to the place of appointment, and ex­pected to have seen the governors; that it was their hunting season, when they should have been in the woods providing for their families, but that their time was taken up in this visit, which they should not think lost, if I would deliver the king's talk to them, and dispatch them immediately; that several of their own people had promised to attend the meeting, who were not come, but that it seemed to be the present prevailing custom for men to speak with two tongues. [Page 11] I repeated the reasons for altering the place of meeting, which I enlarged upon as much as the subject would admit, and desired they would let me know, after considering the affair maturely, whether or not they would go to Dorchester: they did not hesitate a moment, but positively refused to go one step further. Creeks also refuse to go further. I then asked, if they would stay here 'till the return of a messenger I should send to the governors? this, with great difficulty, the Creeks were prevailed upon to consent to: they have agreed to wait here ten days, At last agree to wait ten days for the return of an express. at the expiration of which time, if they do not see the governors, or receive the king's message from me, they are infallibly to go away. Lieutenant Barnard sends an express to governor Wright, who will be acquainted with what has passed, about the time this reaches your excellency's hands. The bearer, Kalteisen, [...]as undertaken to carry this with the greatest dispatch, and by him I beg to be favoured with your determination. By all the intelligence I can pick up from the traders, the Creeks were never more disposed to a rupture, The Creeks seem disposed for war. than at this time; and as those who are now here, and who are supposed to be the best affected to us of any, are so jealous, there cannot be any room to hope, that others, who are hourly expected here, will consent to go down to Dorchester: they are conscious of their bad behaviour, Their Past ill be­haviour makes them afraid to trust them­selves further in the set [...]lements. and (upon Indian principles) do not choose to put themselves any more in our power, by going further into the settlements. The Wolf, and a deputation of leading men, A party of them gone to Pensacola, to prescribe bounds to the English there. are now gone to Pensacola, to circumscribe the limits of the garrison within such a narrow compass as will hardly allow them garden room.

The Chicasahs knew the determination of the Creeks to go no farther than this place (as all the Indians had received intimation of the alteration proposed, They were before apprized of the alte­ration of place. and had consulted upon it, before they spoke with me). Pia mattah considered, that, Chieasah leader's remark, in case the Creeks should return disgusted. if the Creeks should return disgusted, it would be dangerous for him and his people to remain here, and return through their country after them; it was from this consideration that he refused to go down, although he has many other objections of seeming weight, which, however, I should have got the better of, if this material one had not occurred.

I find it absolutely impracticable to satisfy these Indians now here, Impossible to satis­fy the Indians [...] Sir Jeffery Amherst's allowance of provi­sions. with the allowance of provisions stipulated by Sir Jeffery Amherst. They have always been used to a very different treatment; and such an innovation, introduced by me, would give a very unfavourable impression of me at my first entrance on the execution of my office; besides, they would be disgusted, Such an innovation, at this time, would be dangerous. and would probably go off; which I would by all possible means avoid, 'till I am made acquainted with the determination of yourself and the other governors, it being the general opinion of people here, that, in such an event, a Creek war would immediately take place, and by the intelligence I can procure I think it probable they are right.

Matters being in this situation, I have not sent any directions for the boats with the presents to return, because that may be done in sufficient time, after the return of the express, for them to be at Dorchester, if any congress do take place there. I have the honour of being, with the greatest respect, Sir,

Copy of the lower Creeks talk, alluded to in Mr. Stuart's letter.

Talk from the lower Creeks.WE, headmen of the lower Creeks has heard bad talks, and are desirous to hear the truth. When we were young men, the governor of Charles-Town always spoke good and friendly to us, and told us that the path should be straight and white to the nation; and it is our desire it should so continue,They make pro­fessions of friendship to the English. and to let the governors see our good intentions. We, headmen of the lower towns, will still hold the English fast by the hand; it is the great God above that gave us the knowledge so to do. We have heard a word amongst us, which has put us in a fright, and don't know what to do 'till we hear the truth.But are alarmed at some bad talks spread among them. We were intending down to Augusta, 'till this news came up amongst us; for we saw the great king's talk, and it was a very good one; we all got together to hear it, and, agreeable to the white people's desire, we intended to go down; it was not we lower towns only that were sent for, it was all the English friends, the upper towns, the Chicasahs, Chactahs, &c. We hear the upper towns does not intend to go down; and we are afraid, that if only we lower towns go, we might be detained 'till the upper towns came down, And afraid to lose their horses. and thereby might lose our horses. These three rivers are all one people, and the upper towns does not want to go down; but we don't throw away the white people's talk; and we desire the governors to send us word, Therefore desire to be dispatched. whether we lower towns may be dispatched when we go down. When the governors sees this talk, they may consider, and think that we have some reason for not coming down at the time appointed. It seems you keep your talk very private, but there is nothing to be hid from we red people: there was a red man from the Tuckabatchies went down with the white people, and when he got to Augusta, the white people desired him to go back imme­diately, and he came away according to their desire; as he returned back, he overtook a gang of pack-horses, and kept company with them to the Oakmuljees, and a white man told him several things, but whether it be true or not we cannot tell; this man that brings us this news, is an old man, and would not tell lies: we have heard, They suspect that the governors want their lands. that the governor of Charles-Town intends to buy our lands from us, as far as Ogeechie, and as high up as Broad-River; and the governor of Savannah intends to buy from us, as far as the fork of Alatamaha; and the governor of North-Carolina intends to buy as far as the Okonies: we lower people desired this man not to speak of this to any of the towns where the murder was committed, but keep it secret 'till we heard the truth: and we have sent down a red man with the white man, and we desire that the red man and white man may be paid for their trouble.

THE talk you sent by Samuel Thomas and one of your own people, Lieut, Barnard's Answer to the lower Creeks talk. I shall forward to the governors by the first opportunity: but as you require an answer forthwith, I acquaint you, that there is not one word of truth Endeavours to as­sure them, that the bad talks they have heard are all false. in what you have heard. You have seen the great king's talk, and say it is a good one; hold fast by that, and you will have nothing to fear. The great kingExhorts them to hold fast the great king's. is desirous of making you a happy people; and the governors and beloved men who are to meet you at Augusta, invite you, with all their other friends and brothers of the red people, to convince you of his good intentions, and not to ask for your lands; they don't want any of your lands: you see it's the great king's talk, that you shall keep your lands, and you may rely on his word,Declares that their lands are not wanted he never alters.

You'll soon be convinced, when you see the governors and beloved men at the meeting, that they only want to brighten the chain of friendship with their friends and brothers the red people, and to give them a few presents,Reminds them that they are to receive presents. to let them see that the great king remembers his red people as well as his white children.

Continue in your first mind, come down and see the governors;And intreats them to meet the gover­nors. they will be here at the time appointed; your hearts will be glad, and you will return home with joy.

You must not give ear to such talks, they are made by bad designing people; the white people will never throw you away, but continue your fast friends for ever.

WE last night received your letter of the 15th instant,Letter to Mr. Stuart. and are sorry you meet with any difficulty in bringing the Indians down to Dorchester. From your account, we have little reason to suppose, that the congress will be general, and if that is the case, it cannot be so effectual as was intended: But,The governors re­solve, in spite of all difficulties, to go by land to Augusta. that we may be liable to no blame, in spite of the inconveniences which present themselves on every side, in spite of the impossibility which Kalteisen represents of getting a waggon to Augusta, we have resolved to set out as soon as possible; and give you this information by express, that the Indians now there may wait with less impatience. As those with you knew several nations were to be invited, [Page 14] could they think it probable, that all would be punctual to the time? the Chero­kees were not at Fort Prince-George the 10th;Must wait the re­turn of Col. Ran­dolph's vessel from Georgia; and though we must wait the return of Col. Randolph's vessel, we apprehend, that some Indians will be after us at Augusta: for the satisfaction of those now assembled, we inclose a talk, which you will deliver them, and use your endeavours to prevail upon them to stay 'till our arrival; but if you cannot succeed, we must beg you to let us know by express, that we may not, by proceeding to Augusta, encounter difficulties, and suffer inconvenience,Yet propose to [...] out on monday October 24th. to no purpose. We hope to set out by monday at farthest, and are,

We have detained Mr. Kalteison, to conduct us to Augusta.

Talk to detain the Indians at Augusta, 'till the governors arrive there.WE, the governors to the great King George, of his colonies of South and North-Carolina, and Virginia, entertained hopes of seeing our brothers of the Indians nations at Dorchester in South-Carolina, there to brighten the chain of friendship between the white and red men, according to the directions we have received from the great king, our common father, for that purpose: which chain we are desirous to hold fast by one end; and if you are inclined to lay strong hold on the other, nothing hereafter will be able to break a single link of it, and our friendship will last, as long as the sun shall shine, or the waters flow. And to convince you, that our talk is straight, and that we do not talk with double tongues, we are determined to set out to meet you at Augusta, since you find the difficulties so great to come so near to Charles-Town: no difficulties can stop us, the great king's appointed governors, from executing his orders.

We have been informed of the evil news you have heard,And an assurance given, that there is no intention to get their lands from them. that the governors intended to possess your lands. We take this opportunity to assure you, in the king's name, that you have been misled, by ignorant people, who do not know the great king's intention, which has been communicated to us, his officers; and that no such intention is harboured in the breast of any of us. The great king's design, in ordering all his governors to act in concert as one man, and in inviting all the nations bordering on these colonies, to hear his talk, was directly contrary to what you have heard; for we shall there declare, that your lands will not be taken from you; and this is to be done before you all, and not in secret, that no nation of Indians may be ignorant of his gracious intentions, and of his fatherly care of the red as well as the white. We have sent this talk previous to our coming, but which we shall follow immediately, to convince you of our sincerity, and to [Page 15] induce you to remain at Augusta, till our arrival; that the great king's orders may be strictly complied with.

HAVING last night received a letter from Mr. Stuart, mentioning the dis-in­clination of the Indians, now assembled at Augusta, Letter to gover­nor Wright, to ac­quaint him of the resolution of the other governors to meet him at Augusts to proceed downwards to Dorchester; that nothing may be wanting on our parts, to fulfil his majesty's directions, we have agreed to set out for Augusta by monday at farthest.

And, as Mr. Stuart informs us, that you are apprized, by lieutenant Barnard, of the Indians resolution to come no further, we take it for granted we shall meet you at Augusta.

WE have this day drawn a bill of exchange on you, for one hundred pounds sterling, at thirty days sight, in favour of Robert Raper, Esq in consequence of your letter of the 11th June, to governor Boone, regarding the [Page 16] Indian presents, which arrived safe; presuming that, by this time, you are in cash for their amount, and that the residue of the money given for this service remains in your hands. If we should be mistaken, we beg you will present our bills to the secretary of state, that they be duly honoured; for no other method is pointed out to us how we should defray the contingencies of this southern congress▪

Letter from go­vernor Wright.

I HAD the honour to receive yours of the 14th instant last night, by colonel Randolph, and another this morning by Joyner. And had the Indians pro­ceeded down to Dorchester, I should have set off immediately for Charles-Town, in order to have contributed, to the utmost of my power, every thing that might appear necessary on the occasion: but this morning I received letters from Augusta, in which Mr. Stuart acquaints me, ‘That, after explaining to the Indians the motives that induced the governors to alter the place of meeting, he put the question, The Indians flatly refuse to proceed to Dorchester. whether or not they would proceed to Dorchester? to which both the Chicasahs and Creeks answered flatly in the negative; that he then desired to know, if they would wait the return of an express, which he would immediately dispatch to the governors? which they also at first refused, but, after much persuasion, he had prevailed on them to wait the ten days; at the expiration of which time they will undoubtedly go away, if none of the governors get there.’

I am therefore to acquaint your excellencies, Mr. Wright there­fore continues deter­mined for Augusta. that, agreeable to what I wrote you in my last, I shall proceed to Augusta, instead of doing myself the pleasure of waiting upon you in Charles-Town.

Letter from Mr. Stuart.

LAST night I was honoured with your excellencies letter of 15th current, inclosing a copy of governor Wright's letter of 11th and your answer; and before now governor Boone must have received my letter of 16th, by express, in which I fully informed him of my transactions with the Indians, Lower Creeks and Cherokees expected at Augusts 20th of October. and of their absolute refusal to proceed to Dorchester. The lower Creeks and Cherokees will be here this day, being only a few miles off. The upper Creeks, of whom a considerable number are here, Upper Creeks per­sist in their resolu­tion, which governs the Chicasahs. remain firm in their determination to proceed no further into the settlements, and their resolution will determine the Chicasahs.

[Page 18] A regard to your excellencies conveniency, induced me to acquiese in your proposal of altering the place of meeting, and to use my utmost endeavours to reconcile the Indians to that measure, Mr. Stuart suspects the Indians to be privately tampered with by the traders. although I then expressed a doubt of being able to prevail on the Creeks to proceed further into the settlements, having had no intelligence from the upper Creeks, Chactahs, and Chicasahs, or answer to the invitation I sent them, on the part, and by order, of the king, to meet your excellencies and me, upon the special service we have in charge. I could not be certain of success, and I did not doubt but your excellencies had resolved on the measures to be pursued by you in case of a disappointment. I am conscious of having done my duty, by endeavouring to remove their jealousies, and using every argument that occurred to me, to induce them to proceed. If the Indians be privately tampered with (which I suspect) it must be by the traders, the very channel through which I am obliged to converse with them. My best endeavours to engage the good offices of the traders, And doubts his own influence as su­perintendent. on this occasion, have and shall not be wanting; but my influence may possibly be very insufficient, for, as matters are now situated, they have nothing to fear or hope from my authority as super­intendent: but perhaps Mr. Wright's endeavours may be more efficacious, and I learn that he is soon expected.

Upon the whole, as I shall use all possible means to accomplish what I came about, if I fail, I hope to be free from censure and blame.

P. S. The Cherokees are just arrived. I am sorry to hear, that a boat with some presents on board her is sunk in this river: A boat with pre­sents sunk in Savan­nah-river. I send down two boats to lighten the rest, which are said to be too deep loaded; which, however, shall not prevent any directions you may think fit to send, relative to the presents, being complied with.

Another letter from the superintendent.

On the 21st, late at night, I had the honour of receiving your excellencies letter of 18th instant. Creeks & Chicasahs will not go one step further. I am sorry to acquaint you, that my endeavours to carry the Indians to Dorchester have proved unsuccessful. The Creeks and Chicasahs will not hear of going one step further. About seventy upper Creeks at Augusta. Of the upper Creeks, there are now here about seventy, including some women. There will be a few from the lower towns of that nation, who are now at Mr. Galphin's.

[Page 19] Agreeable to your excellencies desire,The superintendent convenes the Indians at the Creek camp, and delivers them the governors talk. I went yesterday to the Creek camp, where I convened the Chicasahs, Catawbas, and the Chactaw king. I delivered to them your excellencies talk, and, having waited some time, desired to know their answer: They told me, they had no particular answer to give; that they had heard your talk, and should think of it.They are dilatory in giving an answer. I was surprised at the indifferent dissatisfied behaviour of the Creeks; but I soon after discovered the cause; the Interpreter came to me [...]n less than an hour after I left them, and acquainted me, that all the Creeks were setting out on their return home:The Creeks resolve to go home. One of their nation, who,Their motive dis­covered. for many years, had resided in the Chicasah camp near th [...] place, went to his country men yesterday in the morning, and told them, that we had determined to take revenge for the late murders committed by the Mortar, and that some particular people amongst them were pitched upon as the sacrifice; they were naturally alarmed, and would have all gone off without my knowing the reason, if the affair had not been made known to us by the Chicasah leader.By Pis-mattah the Chicasah leader. I immediately sent for some of their headmen,Headmen of the Cree [...] s [...] for, to be undeceived. who I endeavoured to convince, that what had been told them was false; and desired, that the Indian from whom they had received their information, should be brought to the fort this forenoon, that I may have an opportunity of talking to him before their faces: I look for him in less than an hour.

The Cherokees are all arrived, The Cherokees all arrived, about 3 [...]0. about three hundred, including women and Reason why the Great-war [...]ior is not among them. children; almost all the headmen in the upper and lower towns are amongst them. The Great-Warrior sends word, by the Little Carpenter, that the Creeks have bad intentions, and that his presence at home is absolutely necessary, to prevent his young men from going to war against them; that this is the true cause of his not being here, and not any jealousy or doubt of his personal safety.

The Indians being perpetually going and coming, The total number of Indians at Augu­sta not quite certain. I cannot be exact as to numbers, but think there are five hundred or more, including the lower Chicasahs.

If your excellencies have any particular commands, I shall, with the greatest chearfulness, execute them, being,

IN obedience to the king's commands,¹ signified to us severally by your lord­ship, by letter of the 16th of March, we have met the different chiefs of the Chicasahs, Cherokees, Creeks, Chactahs and Catawbas, and have used our utmost endeavours to carry his majesty's intentions into execution.

The removal of the French and Spaniards from the ceded places, which your lordship meant the Indians should be apprized of by us, they were before ac­quainted with; this was unavoidable; the dispatching of invitations to nations so remote as the Chactahs and Chicasahs, necessarily took up a great deal of time, their consultations upon them not much less, and their journey hither still more; however, my lord, we do not apprehend, that their receiving the above intelli­gence from other hands has been detrimental to the king's service. The Chica­sahs, ever faithful to the British interest, are perfectly satisfied with the change. The Chactah leader, now in confederacy with the Chicasahs, had before made repeated offers of declaring against the French, provided he was supplied with English goods; and seems well pleased with the neighbourhood of the English, whose assistance he had before courted: We have, in our reply to him, given him reason to expect, that, by the time he reaches home, there will be traders in his nation by the way of Mobile; and we beg leave to recommend to your lordship, that the Chactahs be supplied with goods from that quarter, as a mea­sure necessary to confirm them in their present professions, and to render them independent of the Creeks, against whom they may be a very useful check when their supplies are no longer so precarious, as they now are by passing through the Creek country. The Creeks had been represented to be very ill disposed, the murders they had committed were frequent, and even subsequent to the receipt of your lordship's letter; and even since the holding of the congress, though amply supplied with provision, they have been accused of wantonly killing the people's [...] ▪ yet their talks have been more friendly than we expected, and their voluntary offer of an augmentation of boundary to Georgia, upon the king's forgivenness of all past injuries being signified to them, supposing their professions sincere, and the chiefs of consequence enough to act for the whole nation, which they declare they do, is certainly as strong a proof as they can at present give of their good-will, it will be necessary, however, to mention to your lordship, that we have been privately cautioned, by the leader of the Chicasahs, against confiding in the Creek professions; he says he knows them, that nothing done here will be confirmed by the absent leaders, in comparison of whom the present chiefs are in­considerable: The Cherokees, in their intelligence, have gone still farther, but as they seem on the point of a war with the Creeks, their testimony is to be sus­pected. Though the talks will convey to your lordship our opinions of the [Page 43] different dispositions or the Indians, yet we thought necessary to add thus much, and to acquaint your lordship, that the Cherokees seem very pacific, but morti­fied at the refusal of traders from South-Carolina, which the act now in force there prevents their being gratified with. And we beg leave to observe to your lordship on this head, that the general promise of goods which we have made, by the king's orders, to the respective Indians, requires such a performance as it is impossible, circumstanced as we are, to be answerable for, for we have no coer­cive power over traders. Your lordship will pardon us for suggesting, that there never was a time more seasonable, for the establishing the commerce with In­dians, upon a general, safe, equitable footing, and which we are afraid will never be done by respective provinces. The Catawbas boundary as before agreed upon, is now confirmed, and they are well satisfied with it. Permit us to refer your lordship, for all further particulars of the congress, to the original papers which we shall have the honour of transmitting with the utmost dispatch, and to hope that we have faithfully executed the king's commands, and approved ourselves,

Letter to gover­nor Wright.

SINCE we had the pleasure of seeing you, governor Boone has received a letter from Mr. Samuel Smith, of London, merchant, acquainting him, that he had a balance in his hands, from the money issued by the treasury, amounting to three hundred and fifty-four pounds,¹ two shillings, and eleven pence, over and above the cost and charges of the presents, which he was ready to pay to go­vernor Boone's order, towards the expence of distributing the presents, and con­tingencies of the congress. We have therefore agreed to draw for the whole, to add forty seven pounds and ten shillings to the gratification of fifty guineas alrea­dy agreed to be given to Mr. Bull,² in consequence of our thinking, that he will have much more trouble than we at first imagined,³ and it will be necessary he should take a good deal of pains with the papers to be transmitted to the secretary of state; the remainder will be deposited in the hands of the superintendant, to be applied towards the incidental expences of the congress.⁴ We should have been glad to have had your concurrence, but as this fresh step appears perfectly reasonable to us, we have no doubt but that it will be equally agreeable to you.

IN consequence of your letter of advice dated the 10th of August,Letter to Mr. Sa­muel Smith, merch. in London. to his excellency governor Boone, we have this day drawn three bills of exchange on you for the balance, viz.

• One at thirty days, in favour of the honourable Francis Fauquier, Esq for £ 50 : 0 : 0
• One at thirty days sight, in favour of William Stead, for 100 : 0 : 0
• One at ditto, in favour of William Stead, for 104 : 2 :11
• Sterling £ 254 : 2 : 11

amounting to two hundred and fifty-four pounds, two shillings, and eleven pence, sterling, which be pleased to honour.