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method to retain and secure the Six Nations to the British interest, will be to build two forts, one in Onondago, the other in the Senecas' country, and that each fort be supplied with a proper missionary.

They are further of opinion that the carrying and selling rum in the castles of the Six Nations is of most pernicious. consequence to the public interest of this Colony in particular, and to the British interest in general, with respect to our Indian connections.

The Commissioners are also of opinion that no Frenchman, upon any pretence whatsoever, should be suffered to reside or trade amongst the Six Nations; and that the said Six Nations should be directed to send those Frenchmen away who now trade or reside amongst them, and to warn them not to return, those French emissaries having always been of fatal consequence to the British interest amongst the Six Nations. A true copy from the records of Indian Affairs.

PETER WRAXALL, Sec'y.

Albany, 18th June, 1754. At a meeting of the Commissioners of Indian affairs at the house of Robert Lutteridge, Present,

Peter Winne, Sylvant. Van Schaack, Recorder, Mynd't. Schuyler, John Beekman, Jacob Coen't. Ten Eyck, Esquires.

His Honor the Lieut. Governor having sent to Col. Mynd't. Schuyler to know what he should do with regard to the river Indians at the approaching interview, Col. Schuyler thought proper to convene the Commissioners that they might answer his Honor upon this point.

They are of opinion that after the Six Nations arrive in town, it will be time enough to send a message to the said river Indians.

Whereas divers complaints have been made to the Commissioners of Indian affairs, that the Indians at Canajoharie castle do forcibly take rum from the Oswego traders in their passage by the said castle; and also that the Oneida Indians obliged the traders to let them carry their goods over the carrying place, and to pay them double and something more than double the customary price which the Germans are ready and willing to take; it is the opinion therefore of this Board that

his Honor be pleased, at the approaching interview, to represent the injustice of these proceedings to the Six Nations, and. that it is a breach of their promises so solemnly made, and a violation of their engagements entered into and frequently renewed with former Governors.

A true copy from the records of Indian Affairs.

PETER WRAXALL, Sec'y.

A remonstrance was then read to the Board from the Oswego traders to his Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York, of which the following is a copy.

To his Honor James Delancey, Esq., Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York, &c. &c. &c.

We, the traders (or handlers) to Oswego, most humbly beg leave to remonstrate to your Honor the many hazards and difficulties we are subject to in our passage thither, from the ill treatment we meet with from the Indians: i. e. in passing. the Mohawks' and Canajoharie castles they board our batteaux with axes, knives, &c., and by force take what rum they think. proper, whooping and yelping as if they gloried in their depredations, and threatening murder to any that opposed them. And on our arrival at the great carrying place, the Oneida Indians force our goods from us at pleasure to carry over; and not content with making us pay a most exorbitant pricefor each freight, but rob us of our rum, stores and other goods, with a great deal of invective, threatening language; and are generally so numerous that we are obliged to submit to those impositions, or run the risk of being murdered, and robbed of every thing we have. And to put their schemes the better in execution, they force away the High Germans, who generally attend with their horses, that we may be under a necessity of employing them and paying whatsoever they please to demand.

We therefore humbly pray your Honor to take these our most severe grievances under due consideration, and fall upon such methods to redress them as to you in your great wisdom shall seem most expedient.

Accept of our most fervent prayers for your welfare and prosperity, as we ever remain with all due deference, grat

itude and esteem, Sir, your Honor's most dutiful and most

humble servants.

To which forty-seven names were signed. Oswego, June 1st, 1754.

The following gentlemen were appointed a Committee to prepare the draught of a general speech to be made by his Honor to the Indians, viz. William Johnson, Samuel Welles, Theodore Atkinson, Elisha Williams, Martin Howard, Jr. Isaac Norris, Benj. Tasker, Jr., Esquires, to whom were delivered the aforesaid papers.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning.

At a meeting at the Court House in Albany, on Thursday, the 20th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

His Honor and the aforesaid Council of New York, and several of the Commissioners.

The Committee appointed yesterday to prepare a draught of a general speech to be made to the Indians, not being ready to make their report, the Board adjourned till to-morrow morning.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Friday, the 21st June, 1754, A. M. Present,

His Honor the Lieut. Governor, the Council of New York aforesaid, all the Commissioners, and Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., one of the Commissioners of Massachusetts Bay.

It was proposed by the Governor, that to avoid all disputes about the precedency of the Colonies, they should be named in the minutes according to their situation from north to south; which was agreed to.

Peter Wraxall, Esq. was chosen Secretary to this Board. The Committee delivered in their draught of the general speech, which was read through, and afterwards paragraph by paragraph. Objections were made to some parts. The Board not coming to any conclusion on the same, they adjourned till to-morrow morning.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Saturday, the 22d June, 1754, A. M. Present,

The Council of New York aforesaid, and all the Commissioners, except John Chandler, Esq., one of the Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay.

The consideration of the draught of the general speech was resumed, and one being agreed upon, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Peters were desired to wait upon the Lieut. Governor with the same.

Adjourned to Monday morning.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Monday, the 24th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

The Council of New York aforesaid, and all the Commissioners.

A motion was made that the thanks of this Board be given to the Rev. Mr. Peters, one of the Commissioners for Pennsylvania, for his sermon preached yesterday, and that he be desired to suffer the same to be printed. Which was unanimously agreed to.

Mr. Chambers and Mr. Peters were desired to wait upon his Honor to request him to administer an oath to Mr. Wraxall for the due and faithful discharge of his office of Secretary to this Board.

Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.

At a meeting as aforesaid, Monday afternoon, the 24th June, 1754.

Present,

His Honor the Lieut. Governor and the Council aforesaid of the Province of New York, and all the Commissioners.

Mr. Chambers and Mr. Peters reported to the Board that Mr. Wraxall had been sworn into his office by his Honor, conformable to their desire in the morning.

A motion was made that the Commissioners deliver their opinion whether a Union of all the Colonies is not at present absolutely necessary for their security and defence.

The question was accordingly put, and it passed in the af firmative unanimously.

His Honor the Lieut. Governor made a proposal, as a branch of Indian affairs under the consideration of this Board, to build two forts in the Indian country to protect them, their wives and children, as the best expedient to secure their fidelity to his Majesty.

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Which proposal the Board determined to proceed upon after they had considered some method of effecting the Union between the Colonies.

On a motion that a committee be appointed to prepare and receive plans or schemes for the Union of the Colonies, and to digest them into one general plan, for the inspection of this Board,

Resolved, That each Government choose one of their own number to be of that committee.

Accordingly were appointed,

Thomas Hutchinson, Esq. for Massachusetts Bay,
Theodore Atkinson, Esq. for New Hampshire,

William Pitkin, Esq. for Connecticut,

Stephen Hopkins, Esq. for Rhode Island,

Benjamin Franklin, Esq. for Pennsylvania,

Benjamin Tasker, Esq. for Maryland.

It was left to his Honor to appoint one of his Majesty's Council for the Government of New York; and he named William Smith, Esq.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning, at eleven o'clock.

At a meeting at the Court House at Albany, on Tuesday, the 25th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

Joseph Murray, William Johnson, John Chambers, Esq'rs, of the Council of New York; Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Oliver Partridge, John Worthington, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay; Richard Wibird, Meshech Weare, Henry Sherburne, Esq'rs, Commissioners for New Hampshire; Roger Wolcott, Elisha Williams, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Connecticut; Martin Howard, Jun. Esq. Commissioner for Rhode Island; John Penn, Isaac Norris, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Pennsylvania; Abraham Barnes, Esq. Commissioner for Maryland.

The draught of the general speech not being returned to the Board from his Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York, Adjourned to five o'clock this afternoon.

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