pleasure to lay before His Majesty and will confirm the favorable opinion he is graciously pleased to entertain of his Subjects in this Province

Allthough the address passed in the House my Lord with only one dissentient voice, there is a party in the Assembly of very different principles who I expect will be continually endeavouring to do Mischeif, Finding a great Majority against them, when the address pass'd, the moved to have a call of the House on the 7,h of February, and that the consideration of the weighty business which was before them should be put off to that day. This the House agreed to, and immediately sent out orders for the absent members to attend, However, two Members coming in last week, who were known to be violent in their opposition to Government, a Motion was made that the House should take into consideration the Proceedings of the Congress held at Philadelphia in September last. A warm debate ensued and upon the Previous Question the Motion was rejected by eleven to ten. These ten are my Lord the whole strength of that Party The nine members which have not yet appeared in the House, it is well known will join the eleven. When they come the Majority will be so great, that I hope the House will not again make so near an escape from a Motion brought by surprize upon them

When your Lordship considers that every American Assembly which has met since the Congress was held at Philadelphia, have approved of and adopted the Proceedings of the Congress, and that in those Colonies where the Assembly has not met, the People have in Provincial Congress, or otherwise done the same, the loyalty and firmness of the Assembly of this Province, and of the People in general, will appear in a very striking light. 1 am persuaded his gracious Majesty, and his Ministers will encourage this good and singular disposition, by such instances of indulgence and favor, as shall be wisely calculated to render most evident the good effects of the conduct of this Province.

Yesterday before the Packet arrived, a motion was made, and agreed to in the Assembly, to appoint a day to take into consideration a state of the Greivances of this Colony—to make an humble firm, dutifull and loyall Petition to the throne, a Memorial to the Lords, and Representation and Remonstrance to the Commons of Great Britain. A Committee was appointed for this business, who are to report after the call of the House on the 7lh of this month I have strong expectations, my Lord, that the conduct of this Province will every day more evidently shew the loyalty and affection of the People for their gracious Sovereign, and their ernest desire for a Reconciliation with great Britain

I enclose to your Lordship a Paper Published last week by the Quakers of Philadelphia, they are likewise a very respectable body of People in this Province. It is imagined the address of our Assembly was even a great means of producing this paper from the Quakers Till the address appeared every Body was afraid to oppose what seemed to be the Sentiments of all the Continent

I thought the address of our Assembly of such consequence that in order to give your Lordship the earliest intelligence of it I transmitted it to you by a Merchant ship which sailed from this Port for Exeter, the beginning of last week

No 6. My Lord,

Colonel Guy Johnson to the Earl of Dartmouth.

[Plantation! General (S. P. 0.) CCLXI.]

Guy Park. 13. Febry 1775.

I had the honor to transmit to Your Lord with my last Dispatch of December 14,h the proceedings of the Six Nation Deputies who came to advise with me concerning their transactions at a general Congress at Onondaga, and I then fully stated the situation of Affairs. Soon after I received an express to notify the approach of the Chiefs on very important business, who arrived and opened their conference on the 20,h Ult°, a copy of the principal parts of which I have now the honor to inclose, tho' I have been scarcely able to digest it, as I caught cold during the Congress which brought on me a severe fit of the gravel, from which I am now slowly recovering.

The coming of the Indians was occasioned by a Message they had just received from the Shawanese, giving an account of their transactions and Treaty with Virginia, and that the latter intended to quarrel with the Six Nations, on which the Shawanese invited them to a Congress on Ohio next Spring. This intelligence has given them great concern, at the same time the Oneidas gave an account, that they were told, His Maj" would allow no more goods to be sent to the Indians or Colonists; that powder would soon be at 3 or 4. dollars for a Jill, with other particulars corresponding with what was mentioned in my last, and amongst others they accuse a Dissenting Missionary at one of their Villages (a Native of New England lately returned from his Friends in Boston) and a Trader of that Country, who resides amongst them, as the authors of this report of which I had heard before from some white people of credit; as well, as that various schemes are on foot, to persuade the Indians to take part in the dispute. Tho' I can scarcely believe that Men of good character, more especially any Clergyman would recommend such a measure, yet I know there are not wanting, inferior enthusiasts in the cause who are capable of, and even speak of it, and who on particular enquiry, can easily deny the charge, or attribute it to malice in the Indians whose testimony has seldom the deserved weight. Such Reports, when powder rises so much in value, and other Articles grow scarce, are easily credited and (notwithstanding all my endeavours) removed with great difficulty.

The Indians seem satisfied that the greatest part of the Shawanese intelligence is without just foundation, and that it is calculated to create a jealousy of the Virginians for some future evil purpose, and accordingly propose to decline meeting the former, and to require their attendance at a Congress to the Northward in my presence, when the Confederacy meets in the spring, for which I am now making the necessary provision as well as the scarcity of some articles will permit, as it will be an important Congress, and the Tranquility of the Northern Indians will greatly depend on it for the ensuing summer, the event of which I am anxious about, as I have an opportunity of discovering many things that cannot be known to Government, and I see plainly that (unless timely prevented) some extraordinary steps may be taken to embarass Govern', and its Officers, the Indians being rather in a state of suspence than any other, until their different disputes are accommodated, and they hear respecting the several matters laid before the Crown.

The tranquility of this part of the Country to which the Indians always so much resort has been hitherto much owing to the influence of the family, with which I am connected, and

some threats of a deluded populace have been thereby prevented; I am not to be intimidated by the ordinary modes practiced, tho' I may meet with some obstruction in my duties, and the Indians get disturbed at a time when their uneasinesses are not extinguished.

The last Conferences, were but just ended, when a party of Deputys arrived to acquaint me, that the Shawanese had sent a second Message to desire the attendance of the Six Nations, otherwise the Virginians would put seven Senecas to death, who having lived for many years with the Shawanese, and engaged in their cause were now confined and in irons at Fort Pitt; and although their conduct is condemned, yet the Six Nations have requested the interposition of Govern' and are much alarmed at their situation, they being no more culpable than the Shawanese, and the latter will seize this occasion to irritate the Six Nations, whose fidelity they have long endeavored to shake. So many circumstances will oblige me to meet the Confederacy soon, and I shall be very happy if, in the interim, I am honored with His Majesty's commands, respecting the points in my former letters, that regard the security of the Mohawk's Lands, the boundary line, or any of their requests, as they may apply for an answer, and it will conduce much to their satisfaction, and the public repose, if I am enabled to give them satisfactory assurances thereon.

I have the honor to be with great respect,

My Lord.

Your Lord's most obedient and

most humble servant

G. Johnson.

Proceedings of Colonel Guy Johnson with the Six Nations.

[Plantationi General (S. P. 0. ) CULXI. ]

At a meeting with the Chiefs of the Six Nations, who were Deputized to come to Guy Park on matters of importance. Fryday 20lh January 1775.

Present—Guy Johnson EsqTM Superintend* of Ind" Affairs.

Daniel Claus Esqre agent of Ind" aff: for Canada

Sir John Johnson B' with several other Gentlemen

Joseph Chew Esqre Secretary.

John Butler Esqre Joseph Brant. Interpreters.

69. Warriors and Chiefs of the Six Nations, also the Mohawks and Conajohares.

Teyorhansera the Mohawk Chief arose and performed the ceremony of Condolance for the deaths of some Oneidas and Cayhuga Chiefs, and gave three strings; which ceremonial being returned as usual by the Onondaga speaker with three strings, the speaker arose and addressed the Superintendant as follows.

Brother Gorah Uraghquadirha.

We thank the great spirit for enabling us to meet this day being sent with full authority from our whole Confederacy to you on business of very great importance otherwise you could not have expected to see several old Chiefs at this season of the year.

Brother. There arrived lately at our great fire place, Messengers from the Southward acquainting us with the particulars of the Battle at Kankawa, who say, that the Virginians marched an Army and fought with our Dependants the Shawanese for almost a day, that the Commanding Officer of the Virginians, then required a cessation till the Gov' arrived, who, when he came, desired to speak with the Indian Chiefs; that some warriors went to him, whom he sent back, that then some Chiefs went, who asked him why he invaded and destroyed their people, observing, that they had only attacked some Virginians for having killed their people; the Govr acknowledged he had bad people in his Government, but advised them to make peace, if it was most agreable to them. That whilst this was in agitation, a Shawanese runner arrived and declared he was the only person escaped alive from a village then lately attacked; on which, the Indians upbraided the Virginians with their falsness, but the Governor took pains to excuse them, and still advised them to peace, which was at length agreed to, and that the Indians lost thirty Men in the Action of which three were Senecas of Ohio; that when the peace was made, the Gov' gave some arms and presents to the Shawanese and sent for the Mingo's who were at some distance to join in the peace, but on their arrival, he put them all in irons and has sent them prisoners to Williamsburgh, telling them, that as they associated with the Shawanese he was determined to collect his Troops at Fort Pitt and elsewhere, and march against the Five Nations in order to cut them off; and the Shawanese further advise us that the prisoners are to be put to death in case the five Nations take measures for their security. The Shawanese therefore requested us by these strings to consider their case and to come with all the Northern Indians in the spring to a meeting at Fort Pitt, and that the Superintend' or some of his Officers should attend the same.

Delivered the strings from the Shawanese.

Brother. When we considered this Message, we were greatly surprized at the unreasonable conduct of the Virginians and looked upon, it high time for us to shew our power and the strength of our alliances to these people, who have used us so ill in return for our fidelity, for had it not been for our sitting still and following your advice, they would have felt our power long ago; at the same time we thought it a little extraordinary, that the Shawanese, our dependants, should call us, who did not engage or assist them to a meeting, and therefore we agreed to disregard their Message, and to come down to you, in order to have more information in these matters & to see if you could afford us more satisfaction upon these and other things that disturb our minds. We therefore desire on behalf of all the confederacy, that you will give us full information advice and assistance, on this and what else we shall say, and as we have likewise heard that this quarrel was partly occasioned about land, and that the Shawanese have now given a great deal of land to the Virginians, which you know they have no right to do, we desire to hear from you about it and that you will acquaint the great king, it is our earnest desire and expectation that he may remember our large cession made in 1768. and set his foot on the boundary line then settled, that no person may cross it; and we desire by this Belt that you will do the same. A Belt of 8. Rows.

Then Conogqueisen Chief of Oneida on Behalf of the whole arose and said. Brother. We are now to speak to you on another subject which much affects us; we hear many strange stories of late from the White people, that give us much trouble. We lately told you of some bad advisers we had met with about your own disputes they now come into our towns. We complained to you last summer that the Clergyman at Canowarighare was a very busy Man, that he refused to Baptise some of our people, who were not agreable to him,

and administering the Sacrament to children, whose parents were of his party. We have now much more to say on this head, for he goes on in such a manner that our chiefs are desirous to get rid of him; for he has a store in our village and is concerned in trade with his Brother, which is very unbecoming in him, and he minds public affairs more than Religion, for he is always collecting news and telling us strange matters of the white people, whilst he endeavours to represent us as a people of no consequence to them, in short, he has become such a meddler in things he has no business with, that we desire once more that cause him to be removed to prevent further trouble with him.

you will

The Onondaga speaker next arose and spoke as follows: Brother. When our Chiefs returned last from hence to Onondaga our young Men were mostly abroad, so that the Message to the Southward was delayed for some days and we have since heard that in consequence thereof one of the Messengers wrote a letter to you upon it which letter arrived at the village of Canowaroghare, where it was stopped and read by the Minister, who advised not to forward any news that might be disagreable, but to burn it, which was accordingly done. We therefore beg that you will not look upon it to be an act of ours, or with our knowledge, and that should you hear any accounts of the Messenger's delay in consequence thereof, that you will believe our sincerity and not give ear to it, and by this Belt we beg that you will give orders that no busy people shall hereafter give ill advice, or obstruct the Messengers sent by you and us, as we believe this Minister has done, who we find to be a very busy Man, and a Man interested in Trade and things which we always thought unbecoming the character of a Clergyman. A Belt of 7 Rows.

Having ended; Col: Johnson answered as follows.

Brothers the Chiefs. I have carefully attended to your speeches, and as they contain some weighty matters, which require some thought, I shall consider the whole seriously and give you a full answer with such advice and directions, as will I trust prove satisfactory to you. Then gave them pipes, Tobacco, & some liquor, & adjourned.

Saturday 21. January.

Some Indian Chiefs being still behind, did not proceed on business, and as the Post was expected with some letters on Sunday, that might contain matters necessary to be communicated to the IndM the Superintendant's answer was postponed to Monday Morning.

Monday 23 January.

At a meeting with the before mentioned Indns.

Present—

as before

The Indians being all assembled and seated Colonel Johnson, made them the following speech. Brothers of the Six Nations here assembled.

I am glad to see you all here safe and in health this day, especially as the season is severe and some of your Chiefs are aged Men and as I have now duly considered the subjects you spoke upon I desire your particular attention to my answer which I expect will prove very satisfactory to you.