The Request which the Indians referred to me at this time, your Lordship will find at large in Sir Wm. Johnson's dispatch of 17 April last (N° 7.) which was occasioned by the Declining state of his health, the alarm it caused amongst the Indians, and their repeated sollicitations in my favor, he therein set forth the importance it was of to keep the office of Agent for Indian affairs imediately under the direction of the Crown, and the Transactions in one channel, the peculiar qualifications required for its discharge, and that such an officer should have a long acquaintance with and influence over the Indians. On these heads he was pleased to make mention of me (at their desire) in terms that are very flattering as coming from a Gentleman of his judgment and candour, but such as I cannot conceive myself entitled to: All I can venture to offer, is, That I have for many years served in his Department, and particularly dedicated my time thereto, (as his imediate Dep*) since the reduction of the Corps I served in, & laid aside all endeavors that might contribute to my advancement in any other way, and that if thro' the desire of the Indians and his recommendation I am judged capable of that difficult office, on its present establishment or under such regulations as His Majesty shall see fitting I am ready & desirous to devote the rest of my life, and the utmost of my abilities to the public service in that station.—I am sensible, My Lord, of the disadvantages I must lye under, being unknown, unsupported by sollicitations and at a distance, neither is it prudent that I should attempt a personal application at a period when my presence here may be of some use, I must therefore chiefly depend on His Majesties opinion of His late honest & faithfull servant, and on your Lordship's Discernment, for I have no pretensions to your Patronage tho' I would willingly aspire to it.—

L' Govr Penn has in a letter just received, strongly represented the distresses of his frontier, and requested Sir Wm Johnson to use his Influence with the 6 Nations thereon, and endeavour to procure their mediation &c* I am preparing to pursue this and every other object of the Congress in the best manner I can, the particulars of which I shall take the liberty of laying before your Lordship humbly requesting to be honored with his Majesties Commands that I may govern myself accordingly

I have the honor to acquaint your Lordship that the Congress with the Six Nations (which in my last of the 12,h instant I mentioned had been interrupted by the sudden death of Sir Will" Johnson Bar') is now happily terminated and such measures resolved on by that Confederacy

'He had been Lieutenant in one of the New-York Independent Companies. Army List.-ED.

as will I trust be very soon productive of advantage to the Public, the Indians having dispatched an Embassy composed of some of the principal men of each nation to the Southward charged with such belts and messages as will I persuade myself have considerable effect at this alarming Crisis; the principal parts of their public transactions I have now the honor to transmit a copy of.

In one of Sir Wm Johnson's last letters he complained of those who by their indiscretion were constantly counteracting all his endeavors for the public tranquillity, and it is with concern I repeat it, for those people whose characters and conduct have been fully described by him, increase in numbers & irregularities and under pretence of revenge for acts which their own cruelties occasioned, they have formed large bodies, one of which of more than a thousand men is gone to penetrate into the Indian country and build forts, whilst small detachments are acting offensively against all Indians they meet.-One of these parties lately pursued some faithfull Indians who had escorted a body of Traders to Fort Pitt, -As such Acts of injustice and indiscretion must tend to destroy the confidence, and weaken the attachment of those Indians there who have hitherto acted as friends, so is it in a particular manner disagreable to the Six Nations who are alarmed for their Emigrants on Ohio.-On the Other hand the people on the frontiers of Pensilvania have abandoned their settlem" to avoid the resentment of the Indians, and the authors of all this never reflect that their conduct must produce such an union of Interests amongst the several Tribes as may end in their utter ruin which they would have experienced long since but for the successfull measures adopted by Sir Wm Johnson.—I have since his decease had the good fortune to convince the Six Nations that it was their duty and interest to calm their people, and their resolutions thereon will have that effect unless the disorderly persons on the frontiers shall continue their Acts of Violence and Intrusion. At all events the fidelity of that Confederacy is what I principally depend on for restoring peace to that Country, & preventing the disorder from Spreading.

Since my last I had the satisfaction to receive General Gage's approbation and direction to take upon me the Superintendency of Indian Affairs until His Majesty's pleasure is signified, which has induced me to make such provision for the exigency of the times during that interval, as will prove a sensible inconvenience to me should superior interest, or different representations disappoint my hopes derived from the recommendation of so experienced an officer as Sir Wm. Johnson, whose sentiments of me have been so fully expressed to your. Lordship as to leave no room for any addition of mine.—I must however beg your Lordship's indulgence to add that tho' warmly sollicited by the Indians, as will appear from the papers herewith transmitted I should not sollicit for the management of their Affairs, was I not conscious that from personal influence & the superior opportunities I have had, I may be enabled to render His Majesty some services, tho' I enter upon it at a most critical period at the risque of my own reputation, and (which is as dear to me) that of the worthy man, to whose good opinion & recommendation I am so much indebted.

In one of the private conferences I had with the Indians they agreed to send a private instruction to Kayashota, & the delegates with him, with a view to divert the attention of the other Tribes near Ohio from the Shawanese who depend entirely on their support, and thro' them have endeavored to effect that general but dangerous union they have long had in view; I shall very soon hear the result of these measures as well as of the proceedings of the Shawanese themselves, wch will enable me to consider on the part the Six Nations should next take, their Chiefs having given me private assurances that whenever required they will proceed

to extremities with those Tribes, an offer which I am humbly of opinion should not be accepted. of but in case of great necessity.

I hope my next despatch will afford your Lordship more satisfaction respecting Indian Affairs, and I humbly sollicit your Lordship's countenace & directions, as it shall be my study to cultivate the one, by a constant attention to the other, and the faithfull discharge of my duty. 1 have the honor to be

Proceedings at a Congress with all the Chiefs, and Warriors of the Six Nations at Johnson Hall in June and July 1774.

Present—

The Honbl* Sir William Johnson Bar' Superintendant.

Guy Johnson Esq' Sir Wm'* Dep* as Sec

Daniel Clause Esq Dep* Agent for Canada.

On the 19th of June a large party of Ouondagas &c. arrived at Johnson Hall, and acquainted Sir William Johnson that the Chiefs &c of all the Six Nations were on their way to his House to hold a Conference on the critical state of Indian Affairs, and other matters. From the 19th of June to the Slh of July, parties continued to come in, amounting in the whole to near 600. On the morning of the 8th of July, one of the Prisoners confined in Goal for the murder of the Frenchmen on Lake Ontario, died, & the Indians held a Conference with Sir William, earnestly requesting that the other Prisoner might be restored to them, as they had lately been so ill treated to the Southward, and as the one had died, as they apprehended, through the Circumstances of a confinement, to which he had not been accustomed, for all which, and as it appeared agreeable to the General from the state of affairs, and as they had brought in all the skins they had been able to collect, as a restitution for the robbery, Sir William agreed to their request, & they thereupon delivered up some packs, and a quantity of some loose bear, racoon and other skins, which with those delivered up at Ontario amounted nearly to the real loss sustained by the Canadians wcb appear'd to have been much exaggerated.

The Senecas expressed great satisfaction on the occasion, and Sir William told them that he expected they wou'd act a faithful, and becoming part for this instance of lenity which they owed to their particular sollicitations, His Majesty's compassion, and that he expected this wou'd be the last instance of irregularity on their parts.

At a Meeting of the Six Nations at Johnson Hall the 9,h of July 1774.

Present—

Sir Wm Johnson Bar' Superintend

Guy Johnson Esq

Daniel Clause Esqr with several other Gent"

Conaghquayeson, an Oneida Chief opened the Meeting with the Ceremony of Condolance with the Indians on the death of the young Indian Prisoner, who died the day before, to which the Indians returned their thanks in the usual manner.

Gave Six Strings, & two black Strouds.

Then Serihowane a Seneca Chief proceeded upon the business they assembled for, and addressed Sir William as follows, viz'

Brother Warraghiyagey.

You told us last fall to remember, and keep up strictly to the old engagements entered into with the English which was in general intended for our interest, and welfare, and that you was apprehensive that the sincerity of the Senecas was not so perfect as you cou'd wish.— We can assure you, Brother, of the contrary on our side, and shall be happy if the English on their parts are as sincere towards us, and we beg you will not give ear to every report that is made to our prejudice. Returned a String

Brother, To convince you that we keep fresh in our memory the engagements entered into, with you, we now produce to you the Chain Belt of Alliance and Friendship, you delivered to us at Niagara in 1764 after the Senecas had got bewildered, and acted an unbecoming part towards you. We can assure you, Brother, ever since we have endeavored our utmost to keep that chain of Friendship bright, and the Path of Peace unobstructed, notwithstande which we have observed with concern that many of our people were still suspected of insincerity, which we cannot think we deserved from the English. Shew'd the Belt.

Brother, You likewise recommended to us to collect all our straggling people about the Ohio, and its Branches, & convinced us that it was for the good of the Public that they shou'd be brought under our eyes to prevent them from being led astray by bad people. This Brother, we have endeavored, and are still endeavoring to do, but hitherto without success, which is in a great measure owing to the conduct of the English, the neglect of the Provinces, and the behavior of the Traders.

When you convened us at Niagara, and after settling every matter for our mutual welfare, You also told us we shou'd enjoy a plentiful Trade, and mentioned to us the different Marts where we could have our necessaries, and trade with the English, which we really accordingly enjoyed, and Trade was carried on for some years to our mutual satisfaction, but to our sorrow, that Regulation, by some means or other, did not continue long, and as you informed us soon after, the management of Trade was left to the Regulation of the respective Provinces: but the Provinces have done nothing, and the Trade has been thrown into utter confusion by the Traders being left to their own will and pleasure and pursuit of gain, following our people to their Hunting Grounds with Goods and Liquor, where they not only impose on us at pleasure, but by the means of carrying these Articles to our scattered people, obstruct our endeavors to collect them, which we might have easily effected if the Traders had been obliged to bring their Goods to Niagara, or other Markets, as before.—Brother, you cannot imagine the many

ill consequences this change in the regulation of Trade has occasioned: but we shall still persevere, and hope that you will give orders to your Resident at Fort Pit to assist us in Removing our People living at Canawago & elsewhere.

Brother, We are sorry to observe to you that your People are as ungovernable, or rather more so, than ours. You must remember that it was most solemnly, and publicly settled, and agreed at the General Congress held at Fort Stanwix in 1768 on behalf of the great King of England our Father, and the Governors, and Commissioners of the several Provinces then assembled there, that the Line then pointed out and fixed between the Whites and Indians should forever after be looked upon as a barrier between us, and that the White People were not to go beyond it.-It seems, Brother, that your People entirely disregard, and despise the settlement agreed upon by their Superiors and us; for we find that they, notwithstanding that settlement, are come in vast numbers to the Ohio, and gave our people to understand that they wou'd settle wherever they pleas'd. If this is the case we must look upon every engagement you made with us as void and of no effect, but we hope it is not so, & that you will restrain your people over whom you say you have authority, and make them lay aside their ill designs, and encroachments, as it has already occasioned jealousies and ill blood, and may be productive of infinite mischief, and trouble, and we must beg that if your people insist upon settling so near ours, they may be made subject to some authority that can keep them in order. We entreat you will make this, our request, known to His Majesty, and the Governors of these unruly people, until which time, and until the return of Knyagfuhota from his Embassy to the Nations on the Ohio, we promise for ourselves, as well as on behalf of our Head Women, who have much influence with our young men, to keep them quiet, they being much affected, & exasperated at the cruel murders committed by their lawless people on their friends and relations Gave a Belt.

Brother, You recommended to us the Six Nations, last fall, to consider the distressed situation of the Montauk Indians who being surrounded by the White People of Long Island, were in a fair way of being disspossessed of all their lands by them, on which they had requested that we wou'd afford them a piece of land in our country to which they might retire, and live peacably hereafter. We have taken your desire into Consideration, and agreed to fix them at Canawaroghere. We are glad of the opportunity of serving them in this respect, and shall with pleasure take them under our protection in the same manner as fond parents do their children, & hope they may prove deserving of it. Gave a Belt.

Then a Cayuga War Chief arose, and addressed Sir Wm Johnson, saying that he must inform him how disagreeable it was to their nation to have Traders continually among them who sell rum, and thereby occasion much mischief, and trouble, and requested they might for the future be prevented to go there, in order to avoid accidents that might happen to them,— that they thought it not so far, if they had any thing to sell, to bring it to market on the Mohawk River, and therefore desired that neither the White People, or Indians be allowed to come to Cayuga to trade for the future, that if they chuse to pass their towns in their way to the Seneca Country they had no objection, but only desired they wou'd not dispose of any thing to their people, and at their towns. Gave a Belt.

P. M. Sir William had a conference with the Chiefs wherein he communicated to them the particulars of the account he had received from the Southward respecting the late murders, with the steps taken by his Deputy on the occasion, after which he enlarged on the many