indisposed, on which Occasion I cou'd not help expressing my apprehensions for his safety, and my uneasiness for the consequences in case of his sudden death, unless yourself, with whose abilities I was acquainted, was empowered to act in his Office.—He then told me not to be concerned at the Event of an Accident with which his ill state of health threatened him, for that you who enjoyed his particular confidence, and knew all his affairs, would doubtless act in his place, that therefore whenever I shou'd hear of his death, I shou'd use my influence to assure the Indians that they wou'd not be neglected, and to make them sit still, after which, I should come down to you, or in case of accident to Col. Claus his other Deputy, when I should receive particular information, but that he trusted and expected that you wou'd succeed him. These, Brother, were his words, which he afterwards repeated more than once to myself, and be assured that this comforted me greatly when I heard of his death, & encouraged me to go amongst the Indians, and to keep their heads from being turned, without which they would certainly have gone astray,—for we lost him at a dangerous time, when the White People had made the Indians to the Southward mad, and had alarmed us all, and filled us with discontent. — Brother, I tell you this as an assurance of my Love, & of my inclination to confide in you, as much as I did in your great Father in Law, & as he did in me, which was attended with many advantages both to the English, and to the Indians. I enter warmly into your friendship, and shall communicate many other material things to you, in confidence, that as you know his Rules and Ours, you will do the same, & walk in his steps.

He then advanced, & saluted Col. Johnson who answered him.

Brother, It is a mark of a good mind to repose a generous open confidence in those who are deemed entitled to it. I agree to your Desire, and embrace your friendship in the same manner as my dear Father in Law did, and with the same openness you shall always find me act. The instance you now give me is a proof of the esteem he had for you, and as I know your merit, I shall always set a true value on it, as well as for all your nation, whom Sir William Johnson particularly esteemed for their honesty and fidelity, and who I trust will continue to act in the same manner towards me whilst I have the care of their affairs.—Then shook hands with the Chiefs who told him that the next day they wou'd proceed to other matters, then ordered them some Refreshments after which they retired to their Encampment.

Monday September the 12th

In the Morning the Chiefs, and Warriors of the Onondaga Nation desired a Conference, and accordingly assembled.

PRESENT

Joseph Chew Esq' Secr

John Butler Esq' Interp

Col. Guy Johnson Superintendant

Bryan Lefferty Esq' Clerk of the Pleas.
Robert Adems Esq' Coroner of the County.

Alexr White Esq' High Sherriff of the County. John Dease Esq' M. D. and sev1 other Gent"

Tayawarunte arose, and addressed Col. Johnson as follows.

Brother Gorah,

We are very thankful to the Great Spirit for permitting all our Chiefs & Warriors to see you here this day, and we hope that the Dark Cloud which our late & heavy loss of your Father in Law occasioned may be dispelled by your presence and assistance, -As some of the principal men now present did not attend at the last congress, they must continue in grief 'till the Ceremony of Condolence is performed, when they will be enabled to attend to public affairs of consequence.—They are all happy in this opportunity of doing so, and particularly in seeing you sustain the post of that great man who loved our Nation, and whose sudden Death spread grief and concern all over the Country. Then with three strings, the Onondaga Speaker went through the Ceremony of condolance, Covering the Grave, wiping away the tears that were shed, removing the grief from the Heart, clearing the Sky &c. &c.

3 Strings

Col. Johnson then addressed them. Brothers, I am heartily thankful to the Great Spirit for permitting me to see you all this day, more especially for seeing so many great and wise men amongst you, from whose Deliberations much good may be expected. I am also much obliged by your Ceremonial of Condolance, and the regard you shew for the Memory of your true friend and my Dear Father in Law whose sudden Death left us all in Affliction. I consider your Words as proofs of your affection to him, & as an earnest of the affection I may expect from you, and which I shall return by a faithfull attention to your true interests, and a close imitation of that great man who merited all your esteem.—Then returned the Ceremony of Condolance in the usual manner, and gave three Strings. 3 Strings. After which the Bunt's Eldest Son arose & after giving thanks for the Ceremonial he recapitulated the several services in which he had been engaged by Sir William Johnson from his first entering into his friendship, and produced the different marks of regard he had received, Then (according to the old custom after such an event) he laid them down consisting of a silver hilted sword, laced hat, medals, flags &c. before Col. Johnson, observing that his dear friend, being now no more, these things must be restored to Col. Johnson for his disposal, then a noted Chief and particular friend of Sir Wm Johnson's arose, took off his medal &c and did in like manner as the former, as did some others, after which Col Johnson took them up severally, and having surveyed them, said that he was pleased to find that they had so carefully preserved those Testimonials of their merit, received from their departed friend,- that he well remembered the different occasions on which they were given, and that agreeable to antient usage, he requested them to receive them back & preserve them as mementos of past friendship, and that they wou'd serve to remind them of their engagements, and encourage them to deserve his Majesty's favour in future, and that Col. Johnson wou'd likewise according to custom, deliver them some distinguishing badges of his friendship, and esteem for their past services, in expectation of their future good behavior.

Then Col. Johnson put the medals &c. about their necks and returned the several articles they had surrendered, exhorting them to continue their good behavior, at all which they expressed much satisfaction.

Deiaquanda, next arose & related to Col. Johnson his proceedings with the Indians since the death of Sir William Johnson, and the particular steps he took to preserve peace, adding that

Odonquat, the Seneca Chief had related to him the satisfaction he had received from his conferences with Col. Johnson, with his assurance to observe his words, & to do his utmost for restoring tranquility.

Col. Johnson thanked Deiaquanda and Odonquot for their conduct. These Indians then observed, that, as the Chiefs of the other Nations were not all arrived, they must defer entering upon business, but wou'd give notice when they were ready.

At a Congress held at Johnstown with the Chiefs & Warriors of the Six Nations on Thursday September the 15,h 1774.

Being all seated Teyawarunte of Onondaga Speaker for the Six Nations arose and spoke to Col. Johnson as follows, viz'

Gorah Ughscare,—Our late Superintendant Sir William Johnson gave us this Belt in order to bring the Shawanese our younger Brothers to a meeting, & desired to know the result of that Meeting, in consequence of which we sent Messengers, as we did on your Belt after Sir William Johnson's death. These last Messengers met deputies coming from the Shawanese with whom they returned to Onondaga, where the Shawanese spoke as follows. - Elder Brothers, You are very much for making peace, and have sent your Messengers thro' all the nations for that purpose, and you have also taken the Ax from us, and buried it. When you took this Ax, you desired us to promote peace with all about us; but whilst we were doing this, an Ax was struck into your Heads, and ours by the Virginians, You, therefore who took the Ax from us, shou'd now consider our case, and as we have nothing left us to defend ourselves except a small Switch, we earnestly desire you will give us the Ax again.

-

Returned the Belt.

Brother. We told the Shawanese that we shou'd not agree to their request, but as we find that they are, not only using all their endeavour to disturb the peace between the Six Nations, but also between them and the English, we have sent Messages to the Seven Nations in Canada, and the rest of our Confederacy to meet us at our Council Fire at Onondaga, where we shall determine on measures to put a stop to these troubles, and where we request that our Brothers, the Mohawks will send Deputies to attend, and represent you, and we hope they will send wise men, and not young, or foolish boys, on a matter of so much consequence.

Brother. When we made our Council Fire, it was agreed between us, and all our Confederacy, that if any thing disturbed it, we wou'd all meet, and throw that thing from amongst us, and that we wou'd on these occasions strenghten the Fire that it might burn brighter.

Brother. The Shawanese told us that they very well knew whenever any thing was told to the Six Nations, that they immediately informed the great man the Superintendant, and the English of it, but desired that this might not be told them, but kept private; but Odonquot the Seneca Chief, & Oirawanoe, the Cayuga Chief together with the rest of the nations directly agreed to acquaint you with this.

He then produced the great old Covenant Chain of twenty one rowes & spoke as followes Brother. This is the Covenant Chain delivered to the whole Six Nations by our late Superintendant in presence of Commissioners from nine Governments, which we have kept clean from rust, and held fast in our hands.—This makes us remember the words that were told us when it was given, and which we always look upon, if any one offers to disturb that peace, and harmony subsisting between us.—this we now shew you, that you may know the bad words of the Shawanese have no effect upon us.

Brother. This Belt of fourteen rowes was given us by that great man, our Superintendant Sir William Johnson to make us always keep in mind the Covenant Chain, and to assure us that his heart was always with us to do us good, and keep us in the right way, which we now bring you, that you may see that we have followed his advice.

A large Belt of 14 rowes.

Brother. It gives us great satisfaction to see you here taking care of our affairs and it is our earnest desire that you do so as long as you live, and also that Col. Clause may continue to act for us. Brother, as you are long acquainted with our customs, and the ways of that great man your Father in Law, who has been taken from us, we beg you will continue to attend thereto, and walk in his steps. It wou'd grieve, and trouble us to have any body else concerned in our affairs: for others have no knowledge in them.—We love you, and all Sir William's Family. A Belt of Six Rowes.

Brother. I now speak to you for, and on behalf of the Onondaga Sachems & Warriors, the particular friends of your Father in Law, our late Superintendant, who are now here and rejoice to see one of his family, whom they so much regard, and respect, acting in his place, and who, we hope will long continue to take care of our affairs. A Belt of 8 Rowes.

Brother. We assure you that we will be steadfast and hold fast by the Covenant Chain,— that we will follow the good advice given us by our late friend your Father in Law Sir William Johnson, and what you also told us since, and we hope & desire that you will follow his ways, it being our earnest Desire that the Peace & Friendship between us, may always continue, and never be interrupted, and we hope that Mr Butler, and those who have been employed, may continue to interpret, and act faithfully, promoting the good work of peace.

A Belt of Six Rowes.

Then Decarrihoga Titular head of the Mohocks arose & in a short speech repeated that the Six Nations had been the night before in private Conference where according to antient custom they had fixed on a new name for Col. Johnson in consequence of the office he now discharged.— The Onondaga speaker then arose, and repeated the same on behalf of all the Confederacy, and mentioned the name which was Uraghquadirha i. e. Rays of the Sun enlightening the Earth, after which Col. Johnson stood up, and the name being repeated

by a Chief of each Nation, the Ceremony concluded with the Yo-Ha as is usual, the Speaker directing that the same might be proclaimed in every Nation of the Confederacy.—

Col Johnson then told them that he had received His Majesty's Commission appointing Mr Chew (then present) to be Secretary of Indian Affairs, who was to act as such for the future, whereupon they immediately agreed to confer a name on him by which he shou'd be known, and accordingly named him Decariaderoga.1 i. e. the Junction of two Lakes of different Qualities. After which the Speaker addressed Col. Johnson and told him that the Seneca Messengers who arrived last night were ready to relate their Intelligence.—The Messengers then seated themselves next to the Speaker, who delivered the same as follows.

Brother Gorah Uraghquadirha.*

We have received messages from Kayashota, who was sent by our late Superintendant to the Western Nations, acquainting us that he had been with many of them, and had used his best endeavours towards effecting the business he was sent upon, but that they were greatly obstructed by the Virginians, and that the Season being far advanced they cou'd not be expected 'till the Winter or Spring. — Brother these four Strings of Wampum we have received from the Delawares, our Nephews, who thereby assure us they will mind our Words, keep their Young Men from doing mischief, and avoid all things by which the public Peace might be disturbed, and they desire you may be acquainted with these their good Intentions. Four Strings.

Brother Uraghquadirha.— Kayashota and Canaragayatia have also sent us word by these Strings that in consequence of Sir William's, and our desires, they have done all in their power to persuade our people that are amongst the Shawanese, to leave them, but have been able to prevail on only two families as yet, and almost dispair of getting any more of them to come away in these troublesome times.— 4 Strings Brother. This Bunch of Strings the Messengers received from Mr McKee, and Mr Croghan, who assured them that they are using their best endeavours to keep Peace on the Ohio.— A Bunch of Strings.

After which Dtiaquanda head warrior of Onondaga arose, and said he desired to acquaint Col. Johnson that in Conversation with Adonquat the Seneca Chief, on returning from the last meeting, he had assured him that he was so well pleased with Col. Johnsons words in private Conference that he had determined to promote peace, and cooperate with Deiaquanda therein, and sent a Belt of Wampum as a proof thereof—Then the Day being far spent they were treated with pipes, tobacco & a dram & retired to their encampm".

At a Congress with the aforementioned Nations on Saturday September the 17th 1774.

Brother. I have maturely considered the several matters you have laid before me the other Day, and am now prepared to answer them, to which I must desire your attention.

'From Caniadare, Lake, and tiogen, junction of two waters.

'From the verb Oaraghtadiron, whereof the 3d person of the Indicative present is Haraghxadirha, signifying the ray of the Sun passes to a place; from Qaraghxa, the Sun. Both names are of the Onondaga dialect.—ED.