Tuesday July 23 In the morning the Indians all assembled in Council. Brothers of the Six Nations, of Canada, and all others here assembled. Having now brought the business of this Treaty to a favourable conclusion, I cannot help expressing my satisfaction thereat, and at the readiness, and unanimity which the Chiefs have manifested upon this occasion. It only now remains, that I close this Congress, in a suitable manner by adding strength and weight to our proceedings.—I do therefore by this Belt, renew and strengthen the covenant chain, or alliance entered into between our ancestors and yours. I likewise clean and brighten it, so that it may not contract any rust, and I do assure you on the part of the great King, that we shall take care to hold it fast, and preserve it unhurt to the latest posterity, if you will on your parts be observant of the part which is in your hands, and take equal care of it. I likewise declare, that it is the intention of His Maj" and all his subjects to abide by, and fulfill the engagements with you, so far as is possible, and I recommend it to you all to make public the transactions of this Treaty throughout all the Nations to the setting of the sun; and as you value yourselves, and wish to be happy, to abide by, and faithfully perform all that you have promised. Gave the Belt of the Covenant Chain, after which every Nation gave the Yohah. Brothers. Notwithstanding the great additional expense which the King, my Master has been at in bestowing favours on such an additional number of Indians, as by the reduction of Canada have been admitted into our alliance, his Maj" is still mindful of you, and has therefore been graciously pleased to consider your present wants by ordering you a handsome present, which I have brought to this place and which shall now be delivered to you. I hope that you may retain a grateful sense of these, and all other Marks of his Royal favor, and that you will always be studious to merit the continuance of his protection and friendship, and the regard of all his subjects. Brothers the Missasagas. I am glad that by your attending at this Treaty you had an opportunity of observing the friendship subsisting between the English and your Brothers here assembled, and the unanimity with which we have brought several weighty matters to an agreable conclusion. I recommend it to you faithfully to relate the particulars that have passed here, to your Nation, and confederacy, at your return, assuring them of the Friendship of the Great King, and that I shall allways preserve a sincere regard for them, and their interests, so long as they continue to merit it by contributing to diffuse the blessings of peace throughout the Country within their influence, and by joining heartily in promoting the several matters of importance agreed upon before me by their friends and Confederates— A Belt. Bretheren of the several Nations here Assembled. Every thing for the present beeing agreably adjusted, and concluded upon, I have only to add my expectations that you will be steadfast in fulfilling your engagements, and I now close this Treaty with my kindest wishes for your prosperity. Brothers the Cherokees. You have heard the conclusion, & determination of the Six Nations, and their Confederates; and upon maturely considering all circumstances I hope they will prove agreable to your Nation, to whom I desire you will faithfully report all the transactions at this place assuring them of my friendship, and that I am much obliged to them for the grateful sense, which from the Belts you delivered me, I find they retain of my endeavour in effecting the peace between them, and your Brothers here assembled, that I shall always continue to promote it, trusting that they will do the like on their parts, and sincerely wishing, that by attending to the words of your Brother in Carolina, who has the care of you, you may continue to deserve the esteem of the great King, and all his subjects. 2. fine Belts. The Six Nations then renewed their engagements with the Cherokees, acquainting the Deputies, that as they had now come to a final resolution before Sir William Johnson, they hoped that the same would be found satisfactory to the Cherokees. The Nanticoks1 then addressed Sir William, requesting that he would give them a Passport, and letters to the Gov' of Carolina, that they might go, and bring the remainder of their people from thence, and dispose of some land they yet have there. A Belt. They then earnestly requested, that he would prevent the Traders from bringing any more Rum down the Susquahanna, as they who lived there, were determined to abstain from drinking, seeing so many murders committed by means thereof. A Belt. Sir William promised them, that he would grant them a Passport, and also write in their favor to the Gov' of Carolina concerning their lands there, and recommended a proper conduct to them as they passed thro' the several settlements, ettc. a Belt. Sir William also promised that he would do all in his power, to discourage the bringing of Rum to their settlements, and expressed his approbation of the resolutions they had taken, and wished them to continue firm in the same. Returned a Belt. The Cayuga Chief then arose, and acquainted Sir William and the Six Nations that the Delawares, Monsies, ettc living at Chughnot, Wialosing3 ettc had promised to remain where they now live, & not regard the invitation of their Countrymen living at Ohio, and further assured the Six Nations, that they would act agreable to their directions. Spoke with two Belts. Then the Chiefs of the several Nations assembled to consider of an answer to the Covenant Chain Belt, and after some time spent, Abraham the Mohawk Chief stood up, and in the name of the Six Nations and Canada Confederacy ettc repeated what Sir William had said on said Belt, and returned their most hearty thanks for renewing the Covenant and they on their parts did the same. The Onondaga speaker then arose & acquainted Sir William that they appointed Taganaghquaghsee in the room of Kanajiakaia deceased, Tawahmgseraghse of Karaghiadirra4 in the room of Odongota Chieftain of the Warriors, and two more of the Onondaga Nation. All which they hoped he would approve of, and give them such testimonials ettc. as are usual on these occasions. Sir William admitted, and approved of their recommendations, and after giving the appointed Sachems the necessary admonitions, he told them that he would at next general meeting give them the proper testimonials ettc. which he had at his house. 1 A large Belt. 1 Although these Indians have been generally considered a Maryland tribe, it appears by the text that they originally came from Carolina; they afterwards migrated to the eastern shore of Maryland and thence up the Susquehannah. They exist no longer as a Nation. Gallatin's Synopsis of the Indian Tribes. — Ed. » S«e VIL, 60, note 5. "See III., 394, note. 4 See VII., 723, note. Wednesday Morning the Chiefs of each Nation present waited on Sir William at his quarters to let him know the purport of their Message, to be sent by their Deputies to the Wawiaghtanakes, Piankashaas, Kickapos ettc, which is as follows: Brethren. These Deputies from the Six Nation Confederacy are now sent to inform you of the peace established between us and the Cherokees, as well as the good harmony and union that subsists between us, our Brethren, the English, and all the Nations of Indians to the rising of the Sun, at the same time to let you know our surprise and displeasure at your untoward and unruly behaviour towards some of our people, as well as to our Brethren the English, who are employed carrying goods to the Illinois for your use, and that of all the Indians in that quarter, which shews that you are not in your senses. Wherefore we now take you by the head, and shake you so, as to bring you to them, and also take that hatchet out of your hands, which you run about with, doing Mischief. Should you still prove obstinate, and persevere in your wickedness, they are in that case authorized by the whole Confederacy now assembled to tell you, that the consequence will prove fatal to you. Repent therefore of what you have done, otherwise you will inevitably involve your Nations in a War, which must terminate in your ruin. A large Belt shewn. The Canada Confederacy consisting of Seven Nations then told Sir William, that as they intended to wait on him to his house (in their way home) they would there acquaint him with the purport of their Message to those troublesome Nations who were now like Men void of sense, running about with a sharp Axe in their hands at a time, when he was endeavouring to spread peace over all the land. The Missisagas also came to acquaint Sir William, that they intended to wait upon him to his house, where they had something to say to him relative to their Nation. Sir William after having returned the Chiefs his hearty thanks for the part they had acted during the Congress, and expressing his approbation of the Message which they intend sending to the ill disposed Nations, told them, and the Canada Confederacy, Missasages ettc, that he intended also sending them some Belts which should coincide with theirs in a great measure. Then told the Canada Indians & Missisagas ettc, that he would be glad to see them at his house, as he had something particular to say to them. Then Sir William ordered provisions for all the Nations on their journey home, and after parting with them in the most friendly manner, sett off that morning for his own seat accompanied by above one hundred and fifty Indians ettc, and followed by several other parties, on the private affairs of their respective Nations. The foregoing is a true copy, exd by me RICH SHUCKBURGH1 Secretary for Ind" Affairs. 1 Richard Shuckburgh who, if he did not compose, at least introduced the popular and well known air of Yankee Doodle into this country, was of German origin, and received a commission as Surgeon of Captain Horatio Gates' Independent Company of New-York, on the 25th June, 1737. Army List, 1758, 137. Whilst encamped at Greenbush, in the neighborhood of Albany, during the French war, to please, it is said, some eastern levies, he composed a tune and recommended it to the officers as one of the most celebrated airs of martial music. The air took, and in a few days nothing was heard in the Provincial Camp but Yankee Doodle. Little did the Doctor imagine the renown which awaited the air that he had recommended in joke. Farmer & Moore's New Hampshire Collections, III., 217. On the death of Captain Wraxall, Sir Wm. Johnson nominated Dr. Shuckburgh Secretary for Indian affairs in 1759, when he left Captain Gates' corps; but the appointment was not confirmed, Witham Marsh having been sent out in 1761 to fill the office. New-York Commissions, V., 211. We find Dr. Shuckburgh next appointed, 22 December, 1762, Surgeon of the 17th Foot, then serving in America, to which regiment he continued to be attached until 1768, (Army Lists, 1765, 1769,) when he succeeded Mr. Marsh, and filled the office of Secretary of Indian affairs for several years. He received a grant of land in May, 1755, in the present town of Glen, Montgomery county, N. Y.- Ed. No 14. My Lord, Lieutenant-Governor Golden to the Earl of Hillsborovgh. [New-York Papers (8. P. 0.) CLXII.] New York. 18. August 1770. I have the honor of your Loral's commands of the 12th of June N° 39. with His Maj'*'* disallowance of the Act declaring certain persons therein mentioned incapable of being Members of the General Assembly of this Colony; and I have publish'd His Mnjty'* disallowance by Proclamation, as usual. I have communicated to the Council the Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, to enable the Govr Council and Assembly of His Majty's Colony of New York to pass an Act of Assembly for creating and issuing upon Loan, paper Bills of Credit to a certain amount ettc. As the Colony of New York is distinguished by the favour of Parliament in this particular, I make no doubt of its being received with that dutiful gratitude which may justly be expected. - The other Acts of Parliam' relating to the Colonies, and transmitted to me by Mr Pownall, were likewise communicated and all of them lodged in the Secretaries Office. An Equestrian guilt Statue, of the King, made by direction of, and purchased by this Colony, came over in one of the last ships from London. On Thursday last it was opened to view, erected on its proper pedestal, in a square near the Fort and fronting the principal street of the City. I was attended on this occasion by the Gentlemen of the Council, and Members of Assembly then in Town, the magistrates of the City, the Clergy of all Denominations, and a very large number of the principal Inhabitants. Our Loyalty, firm attachment and affection. to His Maju' person was expressed by drinking the King's Health, and a long continuance of His reign, under a discharge of 32 pieces of Cannon, a Band of music playing at the same time from the Ramparts of the Fort. The General and Officers of the Army gave us the honour of their company on the occasion. The whole Company walked in procession from the Fort, round the Statue, while the Spectators expressed their joy, by loud acclamations, and the procession having returned with me to the Fort, the ceremony concluded with great chearfulness and good humour. I am well assured My Lord, that the Merchants in this Place, who appeared most zealous to prevent the importation of British Manufactures, have, notwithstanding, sent themselves orders for large quantities of goods. At the same time they have thrown out the basest aspersions, in the public Newspapers against those who promoted the importation. I am confident, the example of New York will be followed by all the neighbouring Colonies, notwithstanding what appears in the American Newspapers to the contrary. It gives me the greatest pleasure, that the people of New York, under my Administration, are the most forward in returning to their duty. Lord Dunmore is daily expected here. I hope to deliver up the Govern' to him, in peace and tranquility, and with a very favourable disposition of a large majority of the people, especially of any rank to Government. Nothing gives me more pleasure, than the hope your Lord allows me to have, of retaining some regard to— My Lord, your Your most obedient and Cadwallader Colden. The King having received advices that the Spanish Govr of Buenos Ayres hath thought fit to dispossess his Maj,y'' subjects of their settlement at Port Egmont in Falkland Islands; so violent a proceeding in time of profound peace will, unless disavowed by the Court of Spain and proper restitution made, be considered as an open act of hostility, and therefore the King hath thought fit with the advice of his servants to command a considerable Naval Armament to be prepared in order to act as the honor & dignity of his Crown shall under future events require. The suspending or increasing this Naval armamDt will probably depend upon the answer which the Court of Spain shall give to what has been demanded on this occasion, which the King has good reason to hope will correspond with his Maju'' wishes for the preservation of the public peace, in the mean time you cannot be too attentive to the security of the under your Govern' nor too early in your consideration of what may be necessary for protection and defence in case matters should, contrary to His Majt'" just expectations, come to extremities, in which case you may be assured that the security of our possessions in America, will be a principal object of His Maj'*'* care & attention. Whitehall. 28 September 1770. I am ettc. its their Islands HILLSBOROUGH. P. S. Since I wrote the above letter farther advices from the Court of France, have been communicated to me which confirm us in our hope that the peace may still be preserved. I have received and laid before, the King your letter of the 12th of July last. |