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At a meeting as aforesaid, Tuesday, the 25th June, 1754, P. M.

Present,

All the gentlemen of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners.

Mr. Murray delivered to the Board for their approbation his Honor's alterations and additions to the draught of the speech presented to his Honor by Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Peters the 22d instant; which were read to the Board by the Secretary, and the further consideration thereof was deferred till to-morrow morning.

Adjourned till eleven o'clock to-morrow morning.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Wednesday, the 26th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

William Johnson, John Chambers, Esq'rs, of the Council of New York; Samuel Welles, John Chandler, Thomas Hutchinson, and Oliver Partridge, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay; William Pitkin, Roger Wolcott, and Elisha Williams, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Connecticut ; Martin Howard, Jun. Esq. Commissioner for Rhode Island.

The draught of the general speech to the Six Nations was further debated, but not being fully concluded upon, the Board adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Thursday, the 27th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

The four gentlemen of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners.

The draught of the general speech was further debated, and not being fully concluded upon, the Board adjourned till five o'clock this afternoon.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Thursday, the 27th June, 1754, P. M. Present,

The four gentlemen of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners.

A motion was made that the commissions or powers from

the several Governments should be made part of the records. of this Congress.

It was unanimously agreed to, and ordered to be prefixed to these records.

The draught of the general speech was settled, read, and unanimously approved of; and is as follows:

Brethren,

I have invited you here by the command of the great King, our common Father, to receive a present from him, and in his name to renew the ancient treaty between this and all his other Governments, and you our brethren; and I have the pleasure to tell you, that by his special order, there are now present Commissioners from Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Virginia and Carolina likewise desire to be considered as present, although some great affairs which those Governments are engaged in, have prevented their sending Commissioners. We are glad to see our brethren here in health, and heartily bid you welcome. A Belt.

Brethren,

We condole your and our loss in the death of some of your people since the last interview in this place. We wipe away all tears from your eyes, and take away sorrow from your hearts, that you may speak freely.

Brethren,

Three Strings of Wampum.

We come to strengthen and brighten the chain of friendship. It gives us great satisfaction that you have lately added two links to the chain, the Shanihadaradighroones and the Tedderighroones, as it will always give us pleasure to see your strength increased. This chain hath remained firm and unbroken from the beginning. This Belt will represent to you our disposition to preserve it strong and bright, so long as the sun and moon shall endure; and in the name of the great King our Father, and in the behalf of all his Majesty's Colonies, we now solemnly renew, brighten and strengthen the ancient covenant chain, and promise to keep the same inviolable and free from rust; and we expect the like confirmation and assurance on your part. A Chain Belt.

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Brethren, We are informed that you now live dispersed from each

other, contrary to the ancient and prudent custom of your forefathers; and as you are by this means exposed to the attempts of your enemies, we therefore, in the most earnest manner, recommend to and expect it from you, for your own safety, to collect yourselves together, and dwell in your national castles. We desire you, brethren of the Onondago Nation in particular, to call in your friends and relations to join you, especially those of your nation who now live at Oswegatchie. A brave people, separated from each other, may easily fall a sacrifice, whereas united, they may live secure and uninjured.

Brethren,

A Belt.

We have something to say to you of great importance. The treaties subsisting between us and you our brethren, as well as the great affection we bear towards you, oblige us to mention it. The French profess to be in perfect friendship with us, as well as you. Notwithstanding this, they are making continual encroachments upon us both. They have lately done so in the most insulting manner, both to the northward and westward. Your fathers by their valor, above one hundred years ago, gained a considerable country, which they afterwards, of their own accord, put under the protection of the Kings of Great Britain. The French are endeavoring to possess themselves of this whole country, although they have made the most express treaties with the English to the contrary.

Brethren,

It appears to us that these measures of the French must necessarily soon interrupt and destroy all trade and intercourse between the English and the several Indian nations on the continent, and will block up and obstruct the great roads, which have hitherto been open, between you and your allies and friends who live at a distance. We want to know whether these things appear to you in the same light as they do to us, or whether the French taking possession of the lands in your country, and building forts between the lake Erie and the river Ohio, be done with your consent or approbation. A Large Belt.

Brethren,

Open your hearts to us; deal with us as brethren. We are ready to consult with you how to scatter these clouds that hang over us. This is a matter of so great weight that

we think it best to defer mentioning any other affairs till you have considered this, lest they should take away part of that attention which is necessary on so extraordinary an occasion. A Belt.

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

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Friday, the 28th June, 1754, A. M. Present,

John Chandler, Oliver Partridge, and John Worthington, Esquires, Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay; Richard Wibird, Meshech Weare, and Henry Sherburne, Esquires, Commissioners for New Hampshire; Roger Wolcott and Elisha Williams, Esquires, Commissioners for Connecticut; Martin Howard, Jr. Esq., a Commissioner for Rhode Island; John Penn, Esq., one of the Commissioners for Pennsylvania. The Board was adjourned till five o'clock this afternoon.

At a meeting, &c. Friday afternoon, the 28th June, 1754. Present,

The four gentlemen of the Council of New York; all the Commissioners from Massachusetts Bay; all the Commissioners from New Hampshire; all the Commissioners from Connecticut; Stephen Hopkins, one of the Commissioners from Rhode Island; John Penn and Benj. Franklin, Esq'rs. Commissioners from Pennsylvania; Benj. Tasker, Jr. Esq., one of the Commissioners from Maryland.

The Committee appointed the 24th inst. to prepare and receive plans or schemes for the Union of the Colonies, presented short hints of a scheme for that purpose, of which copies were taken by the Commissioners of the respective Provinces.

Adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine o'clock.

At a meeting at the Court House in Albany, on Saturday, the 29th June, 1754, A. M.

Present,

William Smith, Esq. one of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners.

His Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York having given notice to this Board that he was going to speak to the Indians, the Board adjourned till five o'clock this afternoon, and attended his Honor whilst he delivered the speech.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany on Saturday, the 29th June, 1754, P. M. Present,

Joseph Murray, John Chambers, and William Smith, Esquires, of the Council of New York; all the Commissioners from Massachusetts Bay; Theodore Atkinson and Richard Wibird, Esquires, Commissioners for New Hampshire; all the Commissioners from Connecticut; the Commissioners from Rhode Island; all the Commissioners from Pennsylvania; the Commissioners from Maryland.

The Board being informed that a considerable number of Indians from Stockbridge, being of the nation known by the name of the River Indians, were in town, a motion was made that his Honor the Lieut. Governor might be acquainted with the circumstances of said Indians, and desired to give orders for their support.

The said motion was agreed to, and Mr. Welles and Mr. Franklin were appointed to wait on his Honor accordingly. The hints of a scheme for the Union of the Colonies were debated on, but came to no conclusion.

Adjourned to Monday morning at 9 o'clock.

At a meeting at the Court House at Albany, on Monday, the 1st of July, 1754. Present,

The Lieut. Governor and the four gentlemen of the Council of New York; all the Commissioners for Massachusetts Bay, except John Chandler, Esq.; Theodore Atkinson and Henry Sherburne, Esq'rs, Commissioners for New Hampshire; the Commissioners for Connecticut; the Commissioners for Rhode Island; all the Commissioners for Pennsylvania; the Commissioners for Maryland.

Mr. Franklin reported to the Board that he had, with Mr.

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