It gives me great Pleasure that you think the Nations who met you at Niagara, but particularly the Chenussies will remain firm in their Engagements, and that the Messessagoes have entered into Engagements with us. If we can once bring all those Nations to be reconciled at all towards us, we may be able at length to fix them in our Interest.

The Six Nations would very likely be glad to hear that the Shawnese and Delawares got a Blow. For they seem to have become Powerfull and to set the Six Nations at Defiance.

They shall have Orders at the Posts to supply the Onandagoes with Provisions in the Manner you desire. I am with great Regard

Dear Sir,

your most obedient

humble Servant

THOS. GAGE

SR. WM. JOHNSON Bar'.

INDORSED: October 1st 1764

Genr1. Gages letter

FROM CADWALLADER COLDEN ETC.

In the Johnson Calendar, p. 238-39, are listed the following papers which were destroyed by fire: a letter of October 1st from Lieutenant Colonel William Eyre, New York, renewing an offer to be of service to Sir William in England and presenting him with a small tent; Duncan & Phyn's bill, the 1st, Schenectady, for articles bought by Sir William Johnson; a letter of the 1st from Lieutenant Governor Cadwallader Colden, New York, announcing that he is preparing, by direction of the lords of trade, a message to the Assembly proposing that the Kayaderosseras patent be vacated, discussing Indian trade, the sale of rum, and Johnson's land claim and mentioning that the King has made the Connecticut the boundary between the provinces of New York and New Hampshire (printed in Collections of the New York Historical Society, 1876, Colden Papers, p. 369–70); a letter of the 3d from John Duncan, Schenectady, about money which may be sent in care of Lieutenant Phyn, and the fitness of the latter for some post.

[

TESTIMONY OF THOMAS KING

Contemporary Copy

[Sandusky, October 3, 1764]

] an Examination of [

Morris of the 17ths. treatm [ent

Messieurs Bleiker Montour Joh[nson

and Interpreters.

Viz'.

After rowing up the River [Maumee Disembarked and Marched by La[

& were met with by about 200 Warriors [
who attempted to seperate him/Captain Morris [
own Indians, however the whole arrived at three [
and begged of the Indians that they would perm[
to bring up their Ammunition, Provisions &ca which [
chose to undertake themselves, and plundered the par[

Jers

whole; upon which, Thomas King proposed to Captain Morris to return, which he declined. Pondiac seemed to to see the Chiefs from the Six Nations,

[

be very [ as he understood that [ 1 were the Occasion of the War, having received Belts from the Seneca [s] for carrying on the War, during the Congress held at Niagara; The reason he had struck was owing to his having thought the Six Nations had continued in carrying on the War, from the Belts he had received from Jennesu, sent him by the Senecas, and that he should take care for the future how he should be so deceived. That he should set of to the next Castle about eight Miles, where he should settle every thing against their Arrival, From thence he sent a very large Belt to 210 Castles, to make the Road clear, that nothing should Molest them and gave it to St: Vincent, a Free Trader' to deliver it, that Pondiac had received a

1Parkman, in The Conspiracy of Pontiac, II:200, describes SaintVincent as a French drummer, a renegade of civilization, who befriended Morris.

Letter from the King of France with an Account that he had been dead and risen again and that he should send directly 60 Sail of Vessels up the River Mississipi with every Necessary to supply them for carrying on the War.

That in five days the whole arrived at the Miamis Fort, where they were met by a Number of Indians with Spears &ca Equiped ] and that Thomas Jain Morris, was Naked and

[

[

[

[

[

] Indian prepared with his Tomahawk ready

dispatch] him when Pondiac's Nephew ran to his relief s]aying, will this one English Man attone for

all [ ] brethren now exposed at Detroit about Sunset Pondiac's Nephew told Thomas King, that he had saved his Chief, that the Twightwees what we call Miamis were a bad Tribe, that he was Surprised at their Assureance during the Time Pondiac was making Peace; St: Vincent coming into the Room when Captain Morris was releasing and told them he was Astonished at their behaviour while Pondiac was making Peace, the Indians made Answer had you delivered us this Belt before their Arrival, this would never have happened. A Meeting of the Twightwees was held this Evening, welcoming the Six Nations and Cacnawagas, saying whatever they had to say they might deliver it next day. Accordingly Thomas King spoke, Giving them a Belt, saying that he was sent by Colonel Bradstreet and the Chiefs of the Six Nations in Order to make Peace with them, if they were inclinable to it, that if they have any thing to say, the Road should be open from the Illinois to the Onondaga.

The Twightwees produced 15 Belts and 5 Strings of Wampum & spoke as follows. These 15 Belts and 5 Strings arrived Three days ago from the Senecas, in the Name of the Six Nations, who exhort us by the first Belt to give attention to what concerns our mutual Interest, and to be united to them, in Friendship, and upon no Account to suffer that friendship to be dissolved.

The 2d. Belt has on it Six human figures, five of which are represented with two hearts, the Sixth with one, by this Belt the Senecas represent the other Five Nations as [

1

five Nations Cachawagas and Canada [Indians to the English, had we put the English to Death [ here, we should not be to blame, for it was the request [ Six Nations yourselves. It is our Inclination [ return back, for if you proceed, you must expect to die, for persisting in it, doing what you your selves the Six Nations by your Belts prohibited, the Senecas further declare that a Door is opened between their Country & that of the Twightwees, through which they might certainly see whatever Schemes the English were contriving against them, at least if they did not, it should not be the fault of the Senecas, when the Senecas had finished, they told us, we are now returning home, and in a Months time we will return with a large Ax, which will be carried by two Senecas Two Shawnese & Two Delawares that the Senecas said it; giving the Ax to the Miamis, that they must Kill the English on their arrival and they themselves would barr the Roads till such time as they could put a better instrument into their hands. The Twightwees told Thomas King from the Senecas that it was their own faults, having agreed never to make peace with the English.

Fourth and fifth to the same purpose as before,

Sixth Belt: Explanation, you see the English are the Authors of this Disturbance, wanting to encroach on our Lands, and that we ought to be strong, and support one another; These Six Belts I have explained to you; as to the rest you are privy to them;

Brothers, I would not deceive you, you must not [ further, for you'l be killed, you having killed some of the Ind [ians ] the Nations thro' which your path lies, at Niagara so you must return back, I Suppose you expected if you were to succeed that you should Live deliciously at the Illinois, and get fine presen[ts ] by Order of the General, that sent you, we find you are not your own Masters, Brother what can your Errand be to go so far as the Illinois leaving your Wives and Children at home behind, who may be killed by the English, have you the Vanity to think that the English are your Brothers, when at the same time they are not to be depended upon, as what they deliver to you comes not from their hearts.

In the Johnson Calendar, p. 239, are listed the following papers, of October 8th, which were destroyed by fire: a letter from William Darlington, New York, concerning letters, goods, tiles and slates, and Madeira which soured on the journey to Niagara; one from Abram Mortier, New

1Richard Montgomery, the General Montgomery who fell at Quebec on December 31st, 1775, was commissioned a captain in the 17th British regiment on May 4th, 1762.