"Brothers of the three great fires! You say you thought you were the proper owners of the land, that was sold to the fifteen fires, at the treaty of Muskingum; but you say also, that you never received any compensation for those lands. It was always the wish and intention of the fifteen fires, that the true owners of those lands should receive a full compensation for them. If you did not receive a due proportion of the goods, as original proprietors, it was not the fault of the United States; on the contrary, the United States have paid twice for those lands; first at the treaty of McIntosh, ten years ago, and next at that of Muskingum, six years since.

"Younger brothers! Notwithstanding that these lands have been twice paid for, by the fifteen fires, at the places I have mentioned, yet such is the justice and liberality of the United States, that they will now, a third time, make compensation for them." [A large string to the three fires.]

"Brothers, the Miamies! I have paid attention to what the Little Turtle said, two days since, concerning the lands which he claims. He said his father first kindled the fire at Detroit, and stretched his line from thence to the head waters of Scioto; thence down the same to the Ohio; thence down that river to the mouth of the Wabash, and from thence to Chicago, on the south west end of lake Michigan; and observed that his forefathers had enjoyed that country, undisturbed, from time immemorial.

"Brothers! These boundaries enclose a very large space of country indeed; they embrace, if I mistake not, all the lands on which all the nations now present live, as well as those which have been ceded to the United States. The lands which have been ceded have within these three days been acknowledged by the Ottawas, Chippeways, Pottawattamies, Wyandots, Delawares, and Shawanees. The Little Turtle says, the prints of his forefathers' houses are everywhere to be seen within these boundaries. Younger brother! it is true these prints are to be observed, but at the

same time we discover the marks of French possessions throughout this country, which were established long before we were born. These have since been in the possession of the British, who must, in their turn, relinquish them to the United States, when they, the French and the Indians, will be all as one people. [A white string.]

"I will point out to you a few places where I discover strong traces of these establishments; and first of all, I find at Detroit, a very strong print, where the fire was first kindled by your forefathers; next at Vincennes on the Wabash; again at Musquiton, on the same river; a little higher up on that stream, they are to be seen at Ouitanon. I discover another strong trace at Chicago; another on the St. Joseph's of lake Michigan. I have seen distinctly, the prints of a French and of a British post, at the Miami villages, and of a British post at the foot of the Rapids, now in their possession. Prints, very conspicuous, are on the Great Miami, which were possessed by the French, forty-five years ago; and another trace, is very distinctly to be seen at Sandusky.

"It appears to me, that if the Great Spirit, as you say, charged your forefathers to preserve their lands entire, for their posterity, they have paid very little regard to the sacred injunction, for I see they have parted with those lands to your fathers the French-and the English are now, or have been, in possession of them all: therefore, I think the charge urged against the Ottawas, Chippeways and other Indians, comes with a bad grace indeed, from the very people who, perhaps, set them the example. The English and French both wore hats; and yet your forefathers sold them, at various times, portions of your lands. However, as I have already observed, you shall now receive from the United States, further valuable compensation for the lands you have ceded to them by former treaties.

Younger brothers! I will now inform you who it was who gave us these lands in the first instance;-it was your fathers the British, who did not discover that care for your

interests which you ought to have experienced. This is the treaty of peace, made between the United States of America and Great Britain, twelve years ago, at the end of a long and bloody war, when the French and Americans proved too powerful for the British: on these terms they obtained peace. [Here part of the treaty of 1783 was read.] "Here you perceive, that all the country south of the great lakes has been given up to America; but the United States never intended to take that advantage of you, which the British placed in their hands; they wish you to enjoy your just rights, without interruption, and to promote your happiness. The British stipulated to surrender to us all the posts on this side of the boundary agreed on. I told you some days ago, that treaties should ever be sacredly fulfilled by those who make them; but the British, on their part, did not find it convenient to relinquish those posts as soon as they should have done; however, they now find it so, and a precise period is fixed for their delivery. I have now in my hand the copy of a treaty, made eight months since, between them and us, of which I will read you a little. [First and second articles of Mr. Jay's treaty read.] "By this solemn agreement they promise to retire from Michilimackinac, Fort St. Clair, Detroit, Niagara, and all other places on this side of the lakes, in ten moons from this period, and leave the same to the full and quiet possession of the United States.

"Brothers! All nations present, now listen to me!

"Having now explained those matters to you, and informed you of all things I judged necessary for your information, we have nothing to do but to bury the hatchet, and draw a veil over past misfortunes. As you have buried our dead, with the concern of brothers, so I now collect the bones of your slain warriors, put them into a deep pit which I have dug, and cover them carefully over with this large belt, there to remain undisturbed. I also dry the tears from your eyes, and wipe the blood from your

bodies, with this soft white linen. No bloody traces will ever lead to the graves of your departed heroes; with this, I wipe all such away. I deliver it to your uncle, the Wyandot, who will send it round amongst you. [A large belt, with a white string attached.]

"I now take the hatchet out of your heads, and with a strong arm, throw it into the centre of the great ocean, where no mortal can ever find it; and I now deliver to you the wide and straight path to the fifteen fires, to be used by you and your posterity, forever. So long as you continue to follow this road, so long will you continue to be a happy people. You see it is straight and wide, and they will be blind indeed, who deviate from it. I place it also, in your uncle's hands, that he may preserve it for you. [A large road belt.]

"I will, the day after to-morrow, show you the cessions which you have made to the United States, and point out to you the lines which may, for the future, divide your lands from theirs; and, as you will have to-morrow to rest, I will order you a double allowance of drink, because we have now buried the hatchet, and performed every necessary ceremony, to render propitious, our renovated friendship." Tarkee, chief of the Wyandots, arose, and spoke as follows:

"Brothers, the fifteen fires, listen! and all you chiefs and warriors present. This is a day appointed by the Great Spirit above, for us; he has taken pity on us all, and disposed us to perfect this good work. You have all heard what our elder brother has said on these two belts. We will all now return thanks to this great chief, and to the great chief of the fifteen fires, for their goodness towards us; and we will, at the same time, offer our acknowledgements to the Great Spirit, for it is he alone, who has brought us together, and caused us to agree in the good works which have been done. My thanks are also due to you, chiefs and warriors present." Council adjourned.

CHAPTER XII.

Treaty of Greenville concluded, signed and ratified.-Numbers of the different tribes of Indians parties to the treaty.-Proclamation of Gen. Wayne.

"

Monday, 27th July. In Council. Present as before. The General arose and addressed the Indians as follows: "Younger brothers! When we were last in council, I informed you that I would, on this day, describe the general boundary line, that shall be proposed, to divide the lands of the United States, or fifteen great fires of America, from those belonging to the Indian nations, which I will now proceed to do, in such a manner as to prevent mistakes or disputes in future, respecting that boundary. I will therefore read and explain to you, the several articles of a treaty, upon which a permanent peace shall be established between the United States of America, and all the Indian tribes northwest of the Ohio.

"You will, therefore, younger brothers, open your ears to hear, and your hearts to understand, all and every of the articles of agreement which I hold in my hand."

[Here the General read the proposed articles of treaty, and in explanation of the 3d, made the following observations :]

"Younger brothers! I wish you clearly to understand the object of these reservations. They are not intended to annoy you, or impose the smallest degree of restraint on you, in the quiet and full possession of your lands, but to connect the settlements of the people of the United States, by rendering a passage from one to the other, more practi