At a meeting, &c. on Monday, 8th July, 1754, P. M. Present, All the Commissioners, except Col. Atkinson, Mr. Norris, and the Commissioners from Maryland. The Board proceeded in their consideration upon the plan for a Union, but did not go through with it. The speech proposed to be made to the Six Nations was returned to the Board from his Honor, with the alterations and additions proposed by the Board in the morning. Ordered, that the said speech lay upon the table till some further matters relating to it be agreed on by the Board. The committee appointed in the morning to be present with the Lieut. Governor of New York at a conference with the Canajoharie Indians, returned from the same and reported as follows: That his Honor inquired of the Indians whether they had not expressed themselves satisfied with the measures he had taken concerning their lands, and the promise that he would inquire further into the affair when he came to New York. To which they replied, that they were sensible his Honor was at Albany when they made their complaint at New York last year; that he had told them he had now left the papers there, but he would inquire into it when he came there; that they were willing to try one year more, and if matters were not made up by the Governor whom they looked upon as their elder brother, but neglected as they used to be, they would send to all their other brothers (pointing to the Commissioners) for their assistance; and that they agreed to this the rather, as there were French Indians in town, and they did not think it convenient to have any difference before them. Upon which his Honor again assured them he would inquire into their affairs, in order to their being satisfied, especially as he had the King's orders for it. The Board receiving a message from his Honor that the sachems of the Six Nations were attending to be spoke to, the Board adjourned to 9 o'clock to-morrow morning, and waited upon the Governor. At a meeting in the Court House at Albany, on Tuesday, the 9th July, 1754, A. M. Present, Joseph Murray and William Smith, Esq'rs, of the Council of New York; all the Commissioners, except Col. Partridge and Mr. Hopkins. The public conference between his Honor the Lieut. Governor of New York and the Commissioners of the several Governments with the sachems of the Six Nations yesterday evening was read, and ordered to be entered as follows. Brethren, You told me your hearts were deeply concerned at the sad effects which may arise from selling rum in your respective countries. I will give orders that the laws already made for preventing the sale of this liquor among you shall be strictly put in execution; and whatever further provision in the law is necessary, I will endeavor it shall be made; that you may see I take care of your health and your peace, which are hurt and disturbed by the use of this liquor among you of the five upper nations. And as to what you of the Mohawks have said, I shall consider how far it may be necessary to restrain. the people living round you from selling rum; and if I can think of a proper remedy for this evil, I will endeavor to apply it. Brethren of the upper castle of the Mohawks, I am well pleased with your earnest request to have a church built amongst you, and shall do every thing in my power to promote so good a work; and it is very agreeable to me and the Commissioners from all the Governments present, to find a disposition in you to receive the Christian religion. Brethren, As I have given you satisfaction with respect to one of your complaints about your land, which lay heavy on your minds, and have assured you that I shall endeavor to do you justice as to the rest when I come to New York, I shall not say any thing farther to you on that affair now. The Governor being informed by the interpreter that they chose to have the powder divided on the hill, told them it was in his opinion better for them to have it sent to Schenectady. Hendrick answered for them, "Just as his Honor pleased;" who told them he would order the powder to Schenectady, and the rum above the settlements; with which they expressed themselves satisfied. His Honor then said: I have now done speaking to you. But before I cover up the fire, I must recommend it to you to behave quietly and peaceably to all your brethren and their cattle in your return home. Hendrick then replied: Your Honor told us you now covered up the fires; and we are highly pleased that all things have been so amicably settled, and hope that all that has passed between us may be strictly observed on both sides. Brethren of the several Governments, We hope that you will not fail in the covenant chain, wherewith we have mutually bound ourselves, and now so solemnly renewed and strengthened. If we don't hold fast by this chain of friendship, our enemies will laugh us to scorn. Brethren, We wish you would all contribute to provide some provision for us in our way home, which will effectually prevent our people from killing the inhabitants' cattle; and we desire you will provide some wagons for us to go to Schenectady. We think this expense will fall too heavy upon one province, as we have the presents from all to carry up. We beg we may all take care of the fire of friendship, and preserve it by our mutual attention from any injuries. We will take care of it on our sides, and we hope our brethren will do so on theirs. We wish this tree of friendship may grow up to a great height, and then we shall be a powerful people. Brethren, We, the United Nations, shall rejoice in the increase of our strength, so that all other nations may stand in awe of us. Brethren, I will just tell you what a people we were formerly. If any of our enemies rose against us, we had no occasion to lift up our whole hand against them; for our little finger was sufficient. And as we have now made so strong a confederacy, if we are truly earnest therein, we may retrieve the ancient glory of the Five Nations. Brethren, We have now done; but one word we must add. The interpreter, if the French continue their hostilities, will want assistance, three or four to be joined with him; but this matter we submit to the Governor. We have now finished all that we have to say. The Governor replied: It gives me and all the Commissioners here present great satisfaction, that this interview has concluded so amicably on all sides. I have ordered thirty wagons to be provided for your service, which I expect here to-morrow morning, and I have ordered provisions for you to serve you on your journey. I hope that by this present union we shall grow up to a great height, and be as powerful and famous as you were of old. As to the interpreter, when the circumstances of this country require it, he shall have the necessary assistance; and I assure you, in the name of this Government and all the Governments here present, that we shall endeavor to extend and preserve the covenant chain by every possible method in our power. They asked his Honor when himself and the Commissioners proposed to return home. His Honor answered, that they had some matters yet to settle about the Union, and then they should set out for their respective habitations. The Governor then, in his own name and that of the Commissioners, wished them a good journey, and they returned the compliment; and then the conferences broke up. The answers of the Lieut. Governor and the Commissioners to the Schaticook and River Indians were next read, and ordered to be entered as follows. The answer to the Schaticook Indians. We condole with you on the loss of your old and experi- I and the Commissioners from the other Governments here present are glad to see that although you are young and inexperienced, yet you are willing to take advice, and are determined to remain faithful to the King and friendly to all his subjects. Children, Answer to the River Indians. A Belt. We are glad to find that you treasure up in your memories the mutual instances of friendship between our ancestors and yours. The remembrance of that friendship will descend to our posterity, and we desire you to hand it down to yours; and although there is a great alteration in circumstances since our predecessors first came among you, yet we have not less. affection for you than they had. A Belt. Children, Your brightening and strengthening the covenant chain is well-pleasing to me and the Commissioners. We acknowledge you have never broken it. We have likewise preserved it entire, and are determined to continue to do so. A Belt. Children, You complain that some of the people of this province are in possession of your lands, which you never sold. This is a complaint which affects persons who live at a distance. I have ordered notice to be given them of it; and if, upon inquiry into the affair, it shall appear that you have been injured, I will endeavor to get you redressed. But I shall observe to you, that the constant method of granting lands. in this Province is and has been by license from the Governor to purchase from the Indians; and upon the purchase being returned before him in Council, he with their advice orders a patent; and that most of these lands concerning which you complain were patented when you were children; some before any of you were born. Ordered, that the following minutes be made. That the last paragraph of the foregoing answer to the River Indians about the manner of patenting lands in this Province, beginning with the words, "I shall observe," was an addition made by his Honor to the draught sent him yesterday by this Board. Col. Johnson, Mr. Chambers, Col. Partridge and Mr. Hopkins took their seats. The plan of the Union was debated and agreed upon, and Mr. Franklin was desired to make a draught of it as now concluded upon. Adjourned to 5 o'clock this evening. At a meeting, &c. on Tuesday, the 9th July, 1754, P. M. Present, The Honorable the Lieut. Governor, and the four gentle |