expect, complain to this Government, and effectual measures shall be taken for your satisfaction. Gave a Belt. The following was to be spoke by Mr. Kellogg, interpreter from Massachusetts Bay; which was accordingly done.

Brethren,

We have agreed to tell all news, and take council together. We cannot part till we have told you the news from New England, though at a considerable distance from you. The French have the same bad designs there as well as at Ohio. They are very fond to get Kennebeck river; we have news of their beginning a fort at the head of that river; a priest of theirs has built a house a great way down that river. Governor Shirley has raised eight hundred men and is gone down to drive them away, and to build an English fort at the head or far up the said river Kennebeck.

We have news also that the French are building a fort up Connecticut river, northward of Coos. The Governor of New Hampshire has now sent a company of men up that river to inquire into that fact, and if true, to drive them immediately off. In another part of the Government of New Hampshire a number of the St. Francis' Indian have lately taken a family, consisting of a man and his wife and three children, and carried them into captivity, from an out settlement on Merrimack river; and this contrary to their solemn engagement at a treaty held with them.

We have also news that a number of Indians have murdered twenty-one English fishermen at Canso, had carried their scalps to Cape Breton, where they were well received, and, it is said, rewarded.

The Board then adjourned till to-morrow morning at nine

o'clock.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Thursday, the 4th July, 1754, A. M. Present,

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

The plan for a Union of the Colonies was debated, but nothing finally determined on.

Adjourned to three o'clock this afternoon.

At a meeting as above, Thursday, the 4th July, 1754, P. M.

Present,

All the Commissioners for the several Governments.

The plan for a Union was further considered, but no resolves made thereupon.

The Board receiving a message from his Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York, that the Indians were seated in order to speak to his Honor and the Commissioners, the Board adjourned to nine o'clock to-morrow morning, and waited upon. the Governor.

At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Friday, the 5th July, 1754, A. M. Present,

All the Commissioners for the several Governments.

The rejoinder of the Six Nations, spoke yesterday afternoon, was read to the Board, and ordered to be minuted as follows. (The following speech is chiefly a rejoinder to the reply made to the Six Nations on the 3d inst.)

Brother of New York and brethren of the several Governments,

We, on our side, are equally as much rejoiced as you have expressed yourselves, on the renewing and brightening the ancient covenant chain between all his Majesty's Governments on the continent and us of the Six United Nations. As to what the Governor of New York told us yesterday relating to the Commissioners of Indian affairs at Albany, we are much obliged to him for his promise to direct them to take due notice of us for the future; that he will try them for one year longer; and for giving us leave to acquaint this Government if they do not treat us as brethren.

Brethren,

We have told the Governor of New York how Col. Johnson has behaved to us, and our opinion of him, and the danger we thought ourselves in by his leaving off the management of Indian affairs. If he fails us, we die. However, we agree to what the Governor has proposed to us. He is master of all to do what he pleases, and we submit the whole affair to him. Gave a Belt.

Brethren,

We are very thankful to the King our father for ordering

Commissioners from so many Governments to meet here, in order to inquire into all matters relating to us, and to put every thing upon a right footing. We rejoice that we have opened our hearts to each other, and we return the Governor and all the Commissioners from the several Governments our thanks for the same.

Brethren,

Some time ago the King our father sent a present to the Governor of Virginia, who sent a messenger to the Six Nations that we should come down to Virginia and receive it; but we could not come. We have since been informed that the present was sent to Ohio. (The speaker then proceeded to repeat the substance of what was said to them yesterday on the part of the Government of Pennsylvania by their interpreter, Mr. Weiser.) We allow that the road from Pennsylvania to Ohio is no new road, but has been travelled these thirty years by the traders. We thank the Governor of Virginia for assisting the Indians at Ohio, who are our relations and allies, and we approve of the Governor of Pennsylvania's not having hitherto intermeddled in this affair. He is a wise and prudent man, and will know his own time. We return the Governor of New York and all the other Governments our most hearty thanks (here the speaker made bows to his Honor and all the Commissioners) for the promise of protection given us of our land, and the acknowledgment that the right of selling it is in us. Gave a Belt.

Brethren,

We put you in mind in our former speech of the defenceless state of your frontiers, particularly of this city of Schenectady, and of the country of the Five Nations. You told us yesterday you were consulting about securing both yourselves and us. We beg you will resolve upon something speedily; you are not safe from danger one day; the French have their hatchet in their hands both at Ohio and in two places in New England; we don't know but this very night they may attack us.

One of the principal reasons why we desire you will be speedy in these matters is, that since Col. Johnson has been in this city, there has been a French Indian at his house, who took measure of the wall round it and made very narrow observation on everything thereabouts. We think him (Col. Johnson) in very great danger, because the French will take

more

than ordinary pains either to kill him or take him prisoner, upon account of his great interest among us, and being also one of the Five Nations. (Col. Johnson is one of their sachems.) Upon this they gave four Strings of Wampum.

The Board then proceeded to consider the plan for a Union, but did not go through with it.

Adjourned to 9 o'clock, to-morrow morning.

At a meeting held in the Court House at Albany, on Saturday, the 6th July, 1754, A. M. Present,

All the Commissioners from Massachusetts Bay; William Pitkin and Roger Wolcott, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Connecticut; the Commissioners for Rhode Island; John Penn, Isaac Norris, and Benj. Franklin, Esq'rs, Commissioners for Pennsylvania; the Commissioners for Maryland.

His Honor the Lieut. Governor sent to the Board the speech he proposes to make to the river Indians; which the Board agreed to, with a small addition, which was sent in writing to his Honor.

The Board having been informed by Mr. Peters that the Lieut. Governor of New York sent for him last night, and told him his provisions were expended and he could no longer maintain the Indians, and expected the Commissioners would maintain them, and gave him the list of what had been allowed per day to the Five Nations, exclusive of the river Indians,

The Board hereupon resolved, that they would take the charge of supporting the Indians upon themselves.

Meshech Weare and Henry Sherburne, Esq'rs, Commissioners for New Hampshire took their seats.

The committee appointed the 1st inst. to draw up a representation of the present state of the Colonies with relation to the French, delivered the same to the Board; which was read, and ordered to lie upon the table for the consideration of the Commissioners.

The Secretary presented to the Board a draught of the speech which his Honor proposed to deliver to the Six Nations this afternoon, and also the following message from his Honor, that the Board would please to send him any altera

tions or additions which they might think proper to be made. to the said draught; that his Honor intended, when he made. the speech, to read to them the Act of the General Assembly of New York concerning the sale of rum to the Indians; and that he also recommended the request of the upper castle of the Mohawks for a church to the Board. The Secretary also brought back his Honor's approbation to the small addition proposed to be made to the speech intended to be made to the river Indians: which speech is as follows.

Brethren,

I have sent for you here to give you fresh assurances of the great King your father's protection; and that we might, with the Commissioners whom you now see assembled here from the Governments of Massachusetts Bay, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Maryland, strengthen and brighten the covenant chain.

We are glad to see you at this your old meeting-place, and we do now, in his Majesty's name, and behalf of all his Colonies, renew the ancient covenant chain of friendship, that it may be stronger and brighter than ever; which we recommend to you to preserve clean and free from rust, by a peaceable and affectionate behavior to all your brethren, and especially to those who live near you; and you may then with confidence rely on the favor of this and all his Majesty's Gov

ernments.

As a proof of the King your father's tender regard for you, I shall deliver you a present he has sent over for you, consisting of such necessaries as you may want. And the Commissioners from each of the Governments have contributed towards a present for you also, all which presents shall be here ready for you in the afternoon.

Elisha Williams, Esq. Commissioner for Connecticut, took

his seat.

On a motion made and seconded that a message be sent to his Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York, relating to the answer he proposes to make to the Six Nations, Mr. Hutchinson and Mr. Franklin were appointed to prepare the

same.

Theodore Atkinson and Richard Wibird, Esq'rs, Commissioners for New Hampshire, took their seats; as did also Richard Peters, Esq. one of the Commissioners for Pennsylvania.