My Lord,

Governor Robertson to Lord George Germain.

[New-York Entries (8. P. O.) OOCLIT.]

New York 7 May 17S1.

Sir Henry Clinton after receiving this morning Information, which I presume he communicates to Your Lordship, signified to me that he thought it for his Majesty's Interest that I should immediately take upon myself the Command of the Army in Virginia I embark to Morrow Morning in the Amphitrite Frigate.

Well knowing the talents & disposition of Lieut* Gov' Elliot, I am perfectly satisfied he will continue every endeavour we have jointly used to make Government agreeable to the people, and hope on the whole that the Kings Service will not suffer by my absence from the Province, as this is to continue no longer than till the Army in Virginia falls under the Command of an elder Officer I have the honor to be &c.

James Robertson.

P. 8.

New York 13,h June

Before the Amphitrite could reach Chesapeak I received notice that Lord Cornwallis with his Army had joined the Troops in Virginia, this came accompanied with an Order from Sir Henry Clinton to return to my duty here.

N° 17. My Lord.

Colonel Guy Johnson to Lord George Germain.

[Plantationa General (S. P. 0. ) CCLXVII. ]

Niagara. 11. October 1781.

I had the honor to address your Lordship by letter of the 20lb November last, and having since frequent communications with His Excell* General Haldimand, who would doubtless inform your Lord? of any thing material respecting my Department, I deferred writing 'till this season when military operations are nearly at an end in this quarter..

The transactions of the present year & the proceedings of my Indian Partys, correspond in many respects with the last, and the Petite Guerre in these parts have never appeared to me of sufficient importance to lay a minute detail of them before your Lord. The six Nation Confederacy have, however, distinguished themselves more than usual this year in several smart actions with the Rebels in which, thro' the good conduct of the Indians, and of my Officers they have been every time successful, and in different parts have killed and taken several noted partizans, and laid waste a country abounding in supplies for the Rebels, which has compelled the latter to contract their frontier, and confine themselves within little Forts.—A large detachment is lately gone with a body of Troops ordered on service by the Commander in Chief, and I have just set off, two large parties to co-operate with them.

In a former letter I informed your Lord" of my having prevailed on many of the Indians (who for their faithful services and sufferings expected to be maintained here during the War) to go upon planting grounds at a convenient distance from hence, and the great expence and difficulty attending the Transport of provisions to this Post, having made it necessary to get as many as possible to withdraw, I have been indefatigable in my endeavours for that purpose, and can now assure your Lord, that I have re established near four thousand of them, tho' at much expence, as by the destruction of their Country in 1779, they were in want of every thing, & their demands greatly encreased, but by settling them, I have not only reduced the consumption of provisions but also of all other expences, which will in future be very low, whilst supplied with goods from Europe, as the Indians were continually asking favours whilst here, neither was it prudent to refuse a people, who independent of their sacrifices for Govern', are the security in a great measure of all this communication and who give the example to the rest.

Some endeavours have been lately made by the Rebels to draw them into a neutrality which most of them disdain; I hope, shortly put an end to such attempts as well as to reconcile the Indians to the plan of Oeconomy now entered upon for reducing expences which however enormous, was for a time unavoidable, the accomplishing of this will afford me much satisfaction, for the expences which were only occasional before they were driven out of their country, and whilst they lived at a considerable distance, encreased so much by their residence here, as to require immediate reduction.—Some of the principal Chiefs now here, request that I may make favourable mention of their zeal and fidelity to His Maj", which I constantly tell them, is done, as every such assurance is very flattering to them, and indeed their conduct deserves it, having seldom less than 500 on service who are generally successful without cruelty. As the Commander in Chief is fully acquainted with the State and services of my Department, it is needless for me to add more than, that I am with very great respect My Lord, Your LordP's most obedient & most humble servant.

GK Johnson.1

'Colonel Gut Johnson was born in Ireland, and, coming to America, entered the Indian department under Sir William Johnson, as early as 1756. Supra, VII., 175. He served in the subsequent expedition against the French and accompanied Amherst up the lakes in 1759 in command of a company of rangers, and entered Montreal the following year with the army, remaining there sometime as Indian Agent. After the peace he married one of Sir William Johnson's daughters; was appointed one of his deputies and was placed on half-pay as Lieutenant in one of the New-York companies. Armg Lists. On the death of his father-in-law, in 1774, Guy Johnson was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs (New-York Documentary Hietory, II, 1006), but at the commencement of the public excitement in 1775, found it necessary to abandon his residence at Guy Park and proceed to Oswego with his family and some Indians, and thence to Montreal, where he arrived in July. Supra, p. 659. In November, he sailed for England, where he remained until the following summer. He landed at Staten Island in August, 1776, with a new commission as superintendent, and remained in New-York until 10th September, 1778. During his sojourn in that city he was one of the managers of the old Theatre in John-street. Stone's Life of Brant, I., 152, note. He next sailed for Halifax, where he remained until June, 1779; thence proceeded to Canada, and in the following campaign was present at the battles of Chemung and Newtown, in Western New-York, fought between General Sullivan and the Five Nation Indians. Stone's Brant, II., 19. His head-quarters, after this, were at Niagara, where he had a handsome house within the fort. Ibid., II., 54, 67. He went to England after the peace, and died at his residence, in the Haymarket, London, 6th March, 1788 (Gentleman's Magazine), up to which time his name continued on the half-pay list. In person he is described as short and pussy, hair powdered, of stern countenance and haughty demeanor; his voice was harsh and his tongue bore evidence of his Irish extraction. Stone's Brant, II., 67. His property, in the State of New-York, was confiscated by the act of 1779. — Ed.

My Lord,

Governor Robertson to Lord George Germain.

[New-York Xntrlee (S. P. O.) CCCLIV. ]

New York 8 Nov: 1781.

While Officers of superior Rank and better informed, Account to your Lordships for the disaster that has befallen the Kings Arms. A Governor would do injustice to the people & disappoint their expectations if he did not inform you that they had made every effort within their power to prevent it.

With a zeal equal to the importance of the Service every hand and every means the place could afford was offered for fitting out the Fleet every Merchant and every man of consequence exerted his influence and liberally contributed with his fortune to raise Volunteers to Man it. and all the Sailors who were dead to the calls of generosity were with the assistance of the inhabitants pressed into the Service. The Fleet was finely fitted & manned, persuaded that if this had arrived in the Chesapeak before Lord Cornwallis was compelled to surrender, the event would have been disastrous to the Enemy. At the same time the people wish it should be known that no exertion of theirs was wanting to create dispatch they declare that sensible of his Majesty's goodness in allotting so great a part of his force for the defence of America, when he is attacked by so many powerful enemies far from being dejected they will endeavour by an increased Ardor to repair an unfortunate Event I am &c

James Robertson.

Sir,

Sir John Johnson to Secretary Knox?

[Plantations General (S. P. O.) CCLXVII. ]

Glanville Street. 23. March 1782.

I was last night honored with your letter of the 18th inst: informing me that the King has been most Graciously pleased to appoint me Superintendant General and Inspector of Indian Affairs; this Mark of His Maju" favour and confidence, does most assuredly impress me with the warmest sentiments of duty and gratitude, and will ever excite me to exert my utmost endeavours to render my present appointment beneficial to the public, by establishing the strictest economy through all branches of my Department, by which means I hope to recommend myself to His Maj's further favour and attention.

Therefore, and in obedience to His Majt's Commands I shall immediately prepare to return to Quebec, to take upon me the exercise of my Office; nothing remains to prevent my immediate departure, but the want of a conveyance for myself, Family and baggage, in which, I must beg, you will please to assist me by an Order or in such other manner as you may judge fit.

I shall most punctually observe all orders and instructions that I may receive from the Commander in Chief, and I have no doubt but the allowance for my services, will be adequate and proper.

I have the honor to be with the greatest respect—Sir,

Your most obed' & most humble serv'
John Johnson.

NOTE To p. 704.

The Book of Common Prayer in Mohawk, and its Translators.

Colonel Daniel Claus or Claesse, as the name is sometimes written, was probably a native of the Mohawk Valley, where he acquired, in early life, a knowledge of the Iroquois language, and was in consequence attached, as Interpreter, to the department of General Johnson (supra, VI., 964; VII., SO,) whom he accompanied as Lieutenant of Rangers, in the expedition against Dieskau. New-York Documentary History, 8vo., IV., 281. In 1756 he was appointed Lieutenant in the 60th or Royal American regiment and continued at Johnstown or thereabouts until 1759, when he accompanied the expedition to Niagara, whence he went with the army to Montreal, where he was stationed as superintendent of the Canada Indians. Supra, VII, 846, 878, 485; New-York Colonial Documents, IV., 303. On the 6th July, 1761, he was promoted to a Captaincy in the 60th, but went on half pay in 1763, on the reduction of his regiment. Army Lists. Having returned to Fort Johnson, he continued to act as one of Sir William's Deputies and in 1766, assisted at the treaty concluded with Pontiac at Lake Ontario. Supra, 854. In 1767 he went back to Canada (New-York Documentary History, II., 860), but did not remain there; for having married one of the daughters of Sir William Johnson, he resided near Johnstown until the breaking out of the Revolution, when he retired to Canada. He visited England with Brant, in 1776, and arrived in Quebec 1st June, 1777, with a commission as Deputy Superintendent of, and with instructions to bring, the Indians to cooperate with the British army in the campaign of that year. He accordingly accompanied those tribes in the expedition against Fort Schuyler, in August, 1777, under Brigadier-General St. Leger, who commended his exertions on that occasion. On the failure of this expedition, Colonel Claus returned to Canada and, after peace was declared, proceeded to England to obtain some remuneration for his losses, as his name had been included in the Outlawry Act of 1799, and his property confiscated. He died at Cardiff, Wales, in the latter part of 1787. Oentleman's Magazine for 1787, p. 1024. Mrs. Claus survived her husband thirteen years and died in Canada in 1801. Stone's Life of Brant, II., 451. Colonel Claus' early and long connection with the Indian department as interpreter, rendered him thoroughly conversant with the Iroquois tongue; his services were therefore highly useful in superintending the publication of a correct Translation of the Book of Common Prayer into the Mohawk language, a history of which may be of interest. In the year 1704, the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts sent the Rev. Thoroughgood Moor as missionary to the Mohawks, but his stay was too brief to be productive of any benefit. Supra, IV., 1077, note. After his departure the Rev. Mr. Freeman, Minister of the Reformed Dutch church at Schenectady, administered to those Indians, and translated for them the Morning and Evening Prayers, the whole of the Gospel of St. Matthew, the three first chapters of Genesis, several chapters of Exodus, a few of the Psalms, many portions of the Scriptures relating to the Birth, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord, and several chapters of the 1st Epistle to the Corinthians, particularly the 16th chapter, proving the Resurrection of the Dead. But his work was not printed. In the year 1709 some Mohawk Indians visited England with Col. Schuyler, when application was made for some Missionaries. The Reverend William Andrews was accordingly sent out in the year 1712, by the Society, and the Reverend Mr. Freeman having given the Propagation Society a copy of his translation?, they were sent to Mr. Andrews, for his use, with instructions to print a part in Indian and distribute them among his flock. Accordingly the Morning and Evening Prayers, the Litany, the Church Catechism, Family Prayers and several chapters of the Old and New Testament, were printed in New-York "about the year 1714." Humphrey's Historical Account of the Society for the Propagation of the Oospel, 802, 80S; Preface to the London edition of the Mohawk Prayer Book, 1787; Hawkins' Historical Notes, 266. The New-York Historical Society possesses a copy of this, which is the first edition of the Book of Common Prayer in Mohawk; for an examination of the interesting relic, we are indebted to the politeness of George H. Moore, Esq., the learned Librarian of that valuable institution. The following is the title, of which we subjoin a translation, as nearly literal as may be:

Ne | Orhoengene neoni Yogaraskhagh | Yondereanayendaghkwa, | ne | ene Niyoh Raodeweyena, | Oncghsadoyeaghtige Yondadderighwanoo- | doentha, Siyagonnoghsode Enyondereanayendagh- | kwagge | Yotkade Kapitellhogough ne Ksrighwadnghkwe- | agh Agayea neoni Ase Testament, neoni Niyndegari- | wagge, ne Kanninggahage Siniycwenoteag | Tehoenwenaden yough Lawrance Claesse, Rowena^aradatsk | William Andrews, Ronwanhn-ugh Ongwehoeuwighne | Rodirighhoeni Raddiyadanorough neoni Ahoenwadi- | gonuyosthagge Thoderigh wawaakhogt ne Wahooni | Agarighhowanha Niyoh Raodeweyena Niyadegogh- whenjage. |

Eghtseraggwas Eghtjeeagh ne ongwehoonwe, neoni ne | siyodogh whenjooktannighhoehh etho ahady eandough.

[The Morning and Evening Prayer, and God his Message, the Church Catechism, Universal Supplication (Litany), Some Chapters of the Psalms, of the Old and New Testament, Together with other things, in the Mohawk Language. Translated by Lawrence Claessc, under the Direction of William Andrew*, missionary to the Indian* from the venerable Incorporated Society for the Propagation of God his Word throughout the World.

Give as an Inheritance to thy Son the Indian, and of the World the utmost parts for his possession.]

Small 4to., without date or imprint, and divided into 3 parts: — I. Order for daily Morning and Evening Prayer throughout the year, and Litany. II. Psalms and a collection of Scripture sentences. These two parts embrace Sigs. A to Dd, pp. 115. III. The Church Catechism, signatures A to E, pp. 21, additional. The portions of Scripture translated are Psalms I., XV., XXXII.; Genesis, I., II., III.; and Matthew; I., II, V.

In the summer of 1762, Sir William Johnson communicated to the Rev. Dr. Barclay his design of getting out a new edition of the Indian Prayer Book, under the inspection of that clergyman who had been, in early life, a resident Missionary to the Mohawks. Sir William accordingly sent a translation of the Singing Psalms, Communion service, that of Baptism and some prayers to be added to the old edition; "and as the Square Figure rendered that somewhat inconvenient," he requested the new one to be "a handsome small Octavo." An agreement was entered into with William Weyman of New-York to print an edition of 400 copies, for thirty-six shillings, New-York money, a sheet, exclusive of paper. The work, however, was not commenced until the fall of 1763, and before much progress had been made, Dr. Barclay fell sick. This circumstance and his death in August, 1764, put a total stop to the work for two years. The Rev. Mr. Ogilvie who, like Mr. Barclay, had been a Missionary to the Mohawks and was conversant with their language, was next entrusted with the superintendence of the printing, which was again interrupted in 1768 by the death of Mr. Weyman, after having completed only 9 sheets, that is, signatures A to I, or as far as the 74th page. Hugh Gaine thereupon undertook to complete the work, and though obliged to reprint signatures A and H, the printing was finished by Christmas, 1768, and the first bound copy of the Prayer Book forwarded to Sir William Johnson on the 2d of February, 1769. New-York Documentary History, IV., 321, 334, 340, 364, 384, 336, 405. The New-York Historical Society has a copy of this second edition also, the Title of which is as follows:

The Order for Morning and Evening Prayer, | and Administration of the | Sacraments and some other | offices of the Church, | Together with | A Collection of Prayers, and some Sentences of the Holy Scriptures, necessary for Knowledge | Practice. | Ne | Yagawagh Niyadewighniserage Yonderaenayendagh- | kwa Orghoongene neoni Yognraskha yoghse- ragwewough. Neoni Yagawagh Sakra- | menthogoon, neoni oya Addereanai | yent ne Onoghsadogeaghtige. | Oni | Ne Watkeanissaghtongh Odd'yage Addereanaiyent, | neoni Siniyoghthare ne Kaghyadoghseradogeaghti, | ne Wahooni Ayagoderieandaragge neoni Ayon- | dadderighhoenie. | Collected and translated into the Mohawk | Language under the Direction of the late Rev. | Mr. William Andrewe, the late Rev. Dr. Henry \ Barclay, and the Rev. Mr. John Oglivie: Formerly Missionaries from the venerable Society | for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign | Parts, to the Mohawk Indians. | Printed in the Year, M.DCC.LXIX.

8vo. Title If. Contents If. Sigs. A—Bb. pp. 204.

Very few copies of this edition remained among the Mohawks when they retired to Canada in 1777. Apprehensive that the Book might be wholly lost in a little time, and desirous of a new supply, these Indians petitioned General Haldimand, then Governor of that Province, for a new edition. This request was granted, and one thousand copies were ordered to be printed under the supervision of Colouel Claus, "who," the Preface states, "read and understood "the Mohawk Language so as to undertake the Correction of the Book for the Press." But "as that gentleman's employ "would not permit him to remain at Quebec during the whole printing of the Book, almost one-half of it was corrected "at Montreal and sent weekly by half sheets to Quebec," until he returned to the latter city and finished "the re"mainder of the Book." The difficulties experienced by the Quebec printer in the composition, were quite as great as those encountered by Weyman and Gaine with the edition of 1769. He was "an entire stranger to the Language and obliged to go on with the printing of it letter by letter, which made it a very tedious piece of work;" accents were now introduced for the first time to facilitate the pronunciation of the long words, "Paulus Sahon wadi, the Mohawk Clerk and Schoolmaster, being present at the correction of every proof sheet to approve of their being properly placed." By these precautions many mistakes of the first edition, which were copied in the second, were avoided. The following is the Title of this Quebec edition, from the volume in our possession:

The Order | For Morning and Evening Prayer, | And Administration of the | Sacraments, and some other | Offices of the Church of England, | Together with | A Collection of Prayer*, and some Sentences of the Holy \ Scriptures, necessary for Knowledge and Practice. | Ne Yakawea. | Niyadewighniserage Yondereanayendakhkwa Orhoenkene, | neoni Yogarask-ha Oghseragwegouh; | Ne oni Yakawea, | Orighwadogeoghti Yondatnekosseraghs, | Tekarighwageahhadont, | Neoni 6ya Adereanayent ne Onoghsadogeaghtige, | Oni | Ne Watkeanissa-aghtouh odd'yake Adereanaiyent neoni tri- | niyoght-hare ne Kaghyadoghseradogeaghti ne wahoeni | Ayakoderiendarake neoni Ahondatterihhoonie. | The Third Edition, Formerly collected and translated into the Mohawk or Iroquois Language, under the direction of tin Missionaries from the Venerable | Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign Parts, to the | Mohawk Indians. |