serious consideration.

"Brothers,-We conclude that we do not understand this as the white people do; if we consent to your proposals, we know it will injure us. If these houses should be built, they will tend to scatter us and make us fall in the streets, meaning, by drinking to excess, instead of benefitting us: you want land to raise provisions, hay, &c.; but as soon as the white people settle there, they would think the land theirs, for this is the way of the white people. You mentioned, that when you got possession of the garrisons, you would want landing-places, stores, fields to plant on, &c.; but we wish to be the sole owners of this land ourselves; and when you settle with the British, the Great Spirit has made a road for you, you can pass and repass by water; what you want to reserve, is entirely in your own favour.

presented some strings of black wampum to told us, these houses would be for the accomthe family of the deceased. Clear Sky, then modation of travellers in winter, as they canin a short speech, covered up the council fire. not go by water in that season, and that trav"3d of the month. Big Beard, Sonochle, ellers would want a staff to help them along Canundach, Canatounty and a John White- the road. We have taken these matters into stripe, all Oneidas, called at our lodgings. Big Beard mentioned, that some Friends whom they had seen at New York, requested them to make inquiry who were the original owners of the land about Hopewell, and that if it could be ascertained, it was probable a present would be made them by the Friends who reside in that neighbourhood. He said, they had accordingly made the inquiry, and although, it was beyond a doubt, that the original proprietors were incorporated with the Six Nations, yet they were so mixed and intermarried among the different tribes, that it would be difficult to point them out; they therefore apprehended, it would be most equitable, to distribute it among the Six Nations at large. No council was held to-day, a number of the chiefs being much intoxicated. We were teased by them for liquor, and were at last, obliged to flee from their persecutions. "4th. Sagareesa and captain William Prin- "Brothers,-You told us, when you left tup, a chief and warrior of the Tuscaroras, Philadelphia, it was not expected by the Presiwith an interpreter, visited us to converse dent you would release a foot of land. We about the Hopewell lands, appearing to have thank him for having left you at liberty to no doubt that the Tuscaroras were the origi- give up what you please.-You have waited nal proprietors. Colonel Pickering came to with patience at this council fire, kindled by our lodgings, to read the proposed articles general Washington; it is but a very small which were to conclude the treaty, the sign- thing that keeps the chain from being brighting of which, as witnesses, if we were called ened; if you will consent to give up this upon to do it, had, for several days, been a small piece and have no houses on it, the subject of serious consideration with us. We chain will be made bright. As to harbours, told him, on hearing what was proposed, that the waters are between you and the British, we apprehended for reasons given, we could you must talk to them, you are of the same not be free to sign the treaty; which did not colour. I see there are many of your people appear to be agreeable to him; but we have now here, watching with their mouths open not now to begin to learn to suffer at Indian to take up this land: if you are a friend to treaties. At two o'clock, an Indian messen-us, then disappoint them, our patience is ger from the council, came to inform us they spent; comply with our request; dismiss us were assembled and waiting for us, the Indi- and we will go home. The commissioner ans not being disposed to proceed in our ab- then replied: sence: a great number were assembled and Red Jacket addressed the commissioner:

"Brothers,-We, the sachems of the Six Nations, will now tell you our minds. The business of the treaty is, to brighten the chain of friendship between us and the fifteen fires. We told you the other day, it was but a very small piece which was the occasion of the remaining rust in the chain of friendship.

"Brothers, I wish your attention to a few words. I thought you knew the necessity the United States had for a road from fort Schlosser to Buffalo-creek. You appear sensible of it now, by referring to the road by water, made by the Great Spirit; you may see we can have no benefit of that without a passage by land. You have forgotten what I said the other day, respecting the treaty of sir "Brothers,-Now we are conversing to- William Johnson, by which he obtained a gether, in order to make the chain bright. right to pass and repass through your counWhen we told you what would give us satis- try. I then observed, that what was granted faction, you proposed reserving the piece of to the king, was transferred to the United land, between Cayuga and Buffalo-creek, for building houses, &c., but we apprehend, you would not only build houses, but towns. You

States, by our treaty of peace with the British; now since so small a piece is between us, to convince you that I am not difficult, if you grant

"5th of eleventh month. No council today-colonel Pickering and some chiefs busy in preparing the articles of treaty.

us but liberty to pass and repass, I will me to-morrow morning. I now cover the give up the rest. You know there is a path council fire. already from Buffalo-creek to Niagara, I only ask liberty to make a better path, to clear the stumps and logs out of the way. I am sure, that about so small a matter you can make no difficulty; I will sit down and wait your answer. After a short space, colonel Pickering observed, he had forgot to inform them, that the road should be opened under the direction of the superintendent of the Six Nations, Canadesago; who would take care to have it done so as to be as little injurious as possible to the Indians.

"The sachems having consulted together about half an hour, Red Jacket replied:

"6th. An interpreter with four other Indians, came to have further conversation about the Hopewell land. It does not appear probable, that the Conestogoes were the original owners. We requested them to convene some sensible chiefs of each nation, and we would meet them at general Chapin's with a map of the United States, and endeavour to settle the matter if possible. General Chapin is of

opinion, that the Tuscaroras are the original owners of the Virginia land. No council in "General Washington, now listen; we are public, colonel Pickering being engaged all going to brighten the chain of friendship be-day, in conference on the articles of treaty; tween the Six Nations and the Americans. new objections and dissatisfaction were started We thank you for complying with our re-by several principal chiefs, who are unwilling to quest, in giving up the particular spot in dispute. You mentioned that you wanted a road through our country; remember your old agreement, that you were to pass along the lake by water; we have made up our minds respecting your request to open a road. Colonel Pickering writing what was said, Red Jacket would not proceed till he looked him in the face.

relinquish Presque-isle. They were surprised to find that Cornplanter, Little Billy and others, had received two thousand dollars worth of goods from Pennsylvania at Muskingum, and two thousand dollars at Philadelphia. Their minds being much disturbed, they broke up the conference; this was a sad disappointment to us, who expected that all would be amicably settled and we should set off to-morrow. General Chapin says, he hopes all will come right again, but the Indians must have time to cool. It is to no purpose to say you are tired of waiting, they will only tell you very calm. ly, Brother, you have your way of doing business and we have ours; we desire you would sit easy on your seats. Patience then becomes our only remedy.

"Brothers, It costs the white people a great deal to make roads, we wish not to put you to that great expense; we don't want you to spend your money for that purpose. We have a right understanding of your request, and have agreed to grant you a road from fort Schlosser to Buffalo-creek, but not from Buffalo-creek down this way at all. We have given you an answer; if, on considering it "7th. No business to-day; many of the you have any reply to make, we will hear you. chiefs being drunk. Colonel Pickering spent "Commissioner. I confess brothers, I ex- the afternoon with us. The idea he entertains pected you would have agreed to my pro- respecting the lands ceded at fort Stanwix is, posal; but as this is not the case, I will that as the Indians did the United States a give it up, only reserving the road from fort great deal of injury by taking part with the Schlosser to Buffalo. There has been a mu- British in the late war, it was strictly just that tual condescension, which is the best way of they should make compensation by giving up settling business. There are yet several mat- the lands which they relinquished at that time. ters to be attended to, before signing the arti- He instanced the case of an individual who cles of the treaty; which, I can best commu- had committed a trespass on another; the law nicate to some of your chiefs, as it would not determines that the trespasser shall suffer eibe so convenient to discuss them among large ther in person or property, and this law is numbers. One matter is, how the goods and just. Such is the reasoning of conquerors. annuity had best be appropriated; and as there "8th. The Indians were sober to-day. Geneare some bad people both amongst you and ral Chapin and the commissioner have determinus, it would be well to fix some modes of set-ed to give them no more liquor until the treaty is tling disputes, when they arise between indi- over. The chiefs and warriors were engaged viduals of your nations and ours. As soon till three o'clock with the commissioner, and as we have digested a plan, we will introduce it into the public council. I therefore invite two sachems and two warriors of the Senecas, and a sachem and a warrior of each of the other nations, to take an early breakfast with

agreed on all the articles of treaty to be engrossed on parchment and signed to-morrow. At four o'clock, we met Cornplanter, Red Jacket, Scanadoe, Nicholas, a Tuscarora, Twenty Canoes, two ancient Conestogoes, cap

tain Printup, Sagareesa, Myers Paterson, a half white man who lives with the Tuscaroras, and several other chiefs at general Chapin's, to determine about the Hopewell land; examined maps and conversed with them on the subject, which resulted in the opinion, that the Conestogoes should quit claim to it; it appearing to those present, that the original right was in the Tuscaroras; one of whom, an ancient man, put his finger on the place in the map, saying, he had papers at home that would, as he thought, confirm their claim to it. We desired him to send them to general Chapin to examine, and if he thought they contained anything worth notice, he might forward them to us in Philadelphia.

has already been too much blood spilt; if this had been known at the close of the war, it would have prevented any blood being shed. I have therefore, told our warriors not to sign this treaty. The fifteen fires have deceived us; we are under the sachems and will listen to what they do. Though we will not sign it, yet we shall abide by what they do, as long as they do right. The United States and the Six Nations are now making a firm peace, and we wish the fifteen fires may never deceive them, as they have done us warriors; if they once deceive the sachems, it will be bad. He then took his seat, and after a short pause, said, I will put a patch upon what I have spoken; I hope you will have no uneasiness at hearing the voice of the warriors, you know it is very hard to be once deceived, so you must not make your minds uneasy. Eel, the herald, then made a warm speech to the Indians, exhorting them to abide by the decision of the sachems, which was received with loud shouts of applause. Entaw! Entaw! Entaw! "Colonel Pickering then addressed them as follows:

"Brothers of the Six Nations and your as

"First-day, the 9th. Several Friends in this part of the country came to the meeting; one of them thirteen miles. A number of other white people attended, and a large number of Indians. It was a solid meeting; several, both of whites and Indians, were tender and wept; and after it was over, one man in a particular manner, confessed to the truth and prayed that the Lord might bless it to all who were present. On my part, it was an affectionate farewell to the people hereaway.sociates, I confess I am greatly surprised at We returned to our lodgings, and before we had finished our dinner, a messenger came to inform us that the council was gathered and waiting, which we immediately attended. Two large parchments with the articles of the treaty engrossed, being ready for signing, we were in hopes the business would now close; but "Brothers,-The design of this treaty is, to our surprise and disappointment, we soon to bury all differences; you know I candidly discovered some dissatisfaction among the In- and explicitly disapproved of the conduct of dians, by their putting their heads down to- the commissioners at fort Stanwix, but as this gether and whispering. After waiting impa-treaty was to establish a firm friendship betiently for about an hour, not knowing what it meant, Cornplanter rose and spoke as follows:

the speech of your head warrior, after all the pains I have taken to make the articles of the treaty easy. I endeavoured to please both sachems and warriors, they were both present when the articles were agreed on, and there was not a word of objection.

tween the Six Nations and the United States, I did not wish to bring former transactions into view, which was also the desire of your chief warrior; now he brings up the old matters to make a division in your councils.

"Brothers, I request your attention, whilst I inform you of my own mind as an individual. I consider the conduct of the United States, "Brothers,-I wish for calmness and desince the war, to have been very bad. I con- liberation, as the subject is of importance to ceive they do not do justice. I will mention us, and of the utmost importance to you. He what took place at New York at one particu-expresses his dissatisfaction that our treaty lar time. After the treaty of fort Stanwix, with the British was not explained before; I went to New York under an apprehension, but this was done last year to the Western that the commissioners had not done right; and I laid before Congress our grievances on account of the loss of our lands at that treaty; but the thirteen fires approved of what the commissioners had done, and in confirmation of it, they held up the paper with a piece of silver hanging to it; (the treaty with the British.) Now, colonel Pickering, you have told us at this treaty, that what was given up by the British, was only the land around the forts. I am very much dissatisfied that this was not communicated to us before. There

Indians, when many of the Six Nations were present; I think many of the chiefs must remember it. I will explain it again to prevent mistakes: A certain line was drawn between the British and us; what the British had obtained of the Indians on our side of that line before the peace, was transferred by that treaty to the United States; it was agreed that the British should not interfere with the land on this side of that line, nor were we to interfere with the land on their side of the line.

"Brothers, I am very sorry that these ob

much more convenient to receive what they please to give, at one time, than to have a small sum paid yearly. We have been given to understand, that whenever the former owners of the land could be discovered, Friends stood ready to make them some compensa. tion; as we apprehend this has been sufficiently ascertained, we are thankful to the Great Spirit, that there is now a probability of receiving something for the inheritance of our ancestors.

jections are made now when we are just about to sign the treaty. The chief warrior has called it the treaty of the sachems, and said, that they only were to sign it; but the warriors as well as the sachems were present when it was agreed on, and made no objection to it. He says, they will abide by what the sachems do as long as they do right. Does he mean they will abide by them no longer than the warriors think them right? If this be the case, we may as well let things remain as they are. He says also, the United States "By the above speech, we found they had and the sachems are now making a firm still some mistaken ideas, which we endeav peace, but I cannot consider it so, unless the oured to remove, by again stating to them the sachems and warriors unite; for unless this true reason of the inquiry, and informing is the case, it will cause divisions among your-them we should represent to our brethren at selves; consider whether this will not be home, what now appeared to us to be the attended with dangerous consequences. He state of the case, as soon as we conveniently speaks of the United States deceiving the could. This satisfied them, and they resachems; as I represent the United States, Iquested to sign their names to general Chaphave told you I will not deceive you; I can in's testimony, which most of them did in add nothing on that head to what I have told their usual manner. you already.

"Brothers-I cannot consent to close the business in this manner, after so much care and pains have been taken to make all things easy; but wish you to consider of it until tomorrow and give me an answer. If the warriors expect to live in peace with the United States as well as the sachems; if they desire to brighten the chain of friendship; if they wish to act for the advantage of themselves and their children, I am sure they will sign this treaty. Cornplanter then addressed the warriors in a short speech, desiring they might be firm and steady to what they had agreed on.

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“11th. Had much conversation with several of the Indian chiefs. In the afternoon at two o'clock, we were sent for to council, where a great number were assembled. The Eel, an Onondago chief, spoke to the Indians in a pathetic manner; which we understood to be an exhortation to unanimity among the chiefs and warriors in closing the business. Colonel Pickering then held up the two parchments containing the articles of the treaty, and asked if we should proceed, which they assenting to, he told them he would give one of the parchments to one of their friends to examine, while he read the other. I accordingly examined one, and informed them they were word for word alike. They then agreed

who, though they were young men, were by some custom in their nation, the persons who were to stand foremost in ratifying contracts; they signed, and then the chiefs and warriors, some of the most eminent in each nation, being in all upwards of fifty.

10th. The warriors of the Six Nations met in council in the forenoon, to consult re-to sign and pointed out the two head warriors, specting signing the articles, and came to a judgment. In the afternoon they met again, expecting the commissioner and the sachems; but several of the principal sachems being intoxicated, did not come, so nothing was done. A number of the chiefs and warriors of the Tuscaroras, came to pay us a visit respecting the Hopewell land. Captain Printup spoke for them as follows, viz.

"Brothers,-We believe it was from motives of benevolence and good-will to us, that you were induced to make inquiry after the original owners of some land in Virginia.

"Brothers,-You have now found them, and as you are a people that look up to the Great Spirit for direction, we hope you will now make us some compensation: we are in hopes the business may be accomplished at

this time.

"Brothers,-As the Friends on the land have long received the benefit of its produce, and live at so great a distance, it would be

*Some time after, a number of these Indians came to Philadelphia, for the purpose of examining more fully into the validity of their claims to be the original proprietors of these lands. Friends were very desirous of making a full compensation to the natives for any lands on which they had settled; and accordingly great pains were taken to adjust this business. But, after a close investiga tion of all the circumstances, and an examination of ancient maps and documents, by both Friends and Indians jointly, it did not appear that the Tuscaroras had ever been the possessors of the soil in question. Yet as they had entertained strong expectations of receiving a donation, rather than disappoint them, Friends raised a considerable sum of money and gave it as a present to them, with which they were highly gratified.

"After the articles were signed, we desired doubt considered them; we want to know your Farmer's Brother and Cornplanter, to collect minds whether there is any flaw or catch in as many chiefs of the different nations as they them, which may hereafter occasion uneasithought proper, to go down to our lodgings; ness. the interpreter was also requested to come with them accordingly about forty came. We smoked and conversed with them freely on several subjects relating to their welfare, gave them further information of our principles, and expressed our good wishes for their prosperity. We then had our presents brought and spread upon two tables. They did not choose to divide them themselves, but left it to the interpreter; which being done, they were much pleased and satisfied with the division, and the articles were very agreeable to them. They soon after retired, informing us of their desire to see us to-morrow morning, as they had something further to communicate.