"At a Meeting, &c, Monday, 8th July, 1754, P. M.

"PRESENT:

"All the Commissioners except Col. Atkinson, Mr. Norris, and the Comm of Maryland.

"The Board proceeded in their Consideration upon the Plan for a Union, but did not go thro' with it.

"The Speech proposed to be made to the Six Nations was returned to the Board from his Honour with the Alterations and Additions proposed by the Board in the Morning.

"Ordered, That the said Speech lie upon the Table till some further Matters relating to it be agreed on by the Board.'

"The Committee appointed in the Morning to be present with the Governor of New York at a Conference with the Connajohary Indians returned from the same and reported as follows:

"That his Honour enquired of the Indians whether they had not expressed themselves satisfied with the measures he had taken concerning their Lands and the Promise that he would enquire further into the affair when he came to New York, to which they replied that they were sensible his Honour was at Albany when they made their Complaints at New York last Year, that he had told them he had now left the Papers there, but would enquire into it when he came there. That they were willing to try one Year more and if Matters were not made up by the Governor, whom they looked on as their Elder Brother, but neglected as they used to be, they wou'd send to all their other Brothers (pointing to the Commissioners) for their Assistance, and that they agreed to this the rather as there were French Indians in Town, and that they did not think it convenient to have any Difference before them.' Upon which his Honour again assured them he wou'd enquire into their affairs in order to their being satisfied, especially as he had the King's Orders for it.

"The Board receiving a Message from his Honour that the Sachems of the Six Nations were attending to be spoke to, the Board adjourned to nine o'Clock to-morrow Morning, and waited upon the Governor.

"At a Meeting in the Court House at Albany, Tuesday 9th July, 1754, A. M.

"Joseph Murray and William Smith, Esquires, of the Council of New York, all the Commiss" except Col. Partridge and Mr. Hopkins.

"The publick Conference between his Honour the Lieutenant

Governor of New York and the Commissioners from the several Governments with the Sachems of the Six Nations, yesterday evening, was read and ordered to be entered as follows:

"Brethren:

"You told me your Hearts were deeply concerned at the sad Effects which may arise from selling Rum in your respective Countries. I will give Orders that the Laws already made for preventing the Sale of this Liquor among You shall be strictly put in Execution, and whatever further Provision in the Law is necessary, I will endeavour it shall be made, that You may see I take Care of your Health and your Peace, which are hurt and disturbed by the Use of this Liquor among You of the Five Upper Nations. And as to what You of the Mohocks have said I shall consider how far it may be necessary to restrain the People living round You from selling Rum and if I can think of a proper Remedy for this Evil I will endeavour to apply it.

"Brethren of the Upper Castle of the Mohocks:

"I am well pleased with your Request to have a Church built amongst You, and I shall do every thing in my Power to promote so good a Work. And it is very agreeable to me and the Commissioners from all the Governments present to find a Disposition in You to receive the Christian Religion.

"Brethren:

"As I have given You Satisfaction with respect to one of your Complaints about your Lands, which lay heavy on your Minds, and have assured You that I shall endeavour to do You Justice as to the rest when I come to New York, I shall not say any thing farther to You on that Affair now.'

"The Governor being informed by the Interpreter that they chose to have the Powder divided on the Hill, told them it was in his Opinion better for them to have it sent to Schenactady. Hendrick answered for them, just as his Honour pleased, who told them he would order the Powder to Schenactady and the Rum above the Settlements, with which they expressed themselves satisfied.

"His Honour then said:

"I have now done speaking to You, but before I cover up the Fire I must recommend it to You to behave quietly and peaceably to all your Brethren and their Castle in your Return home.'

"Hendrick then replied:

"Your Honour told Us You now covered up the Fire, and We are highly pleased that all Things have been so amicably settled, and hope that all that has passed between Us may be strictly observed on both sides.

VOL. VI.-7.

"Brethren of the several Governments:

"We hope that You will not fail in the Covenant Chain where with We have mutually bound Ourselves, and now so solemnly renewed and strengthened. If We don't hold fast by this Chain of of Friendship our Enemies will laugh Us to scorn.

"Brethren:

"We wish You would all contribute to provide some Provision for Us in our Way home, which will effectually prevent our People from killing the Inhabitants' Cattle, and We desire you will provide some Waggons for Us to go to Schenactady. We think this Expence will fall too heavy upon one Province, as We have the Presents from all to carry up. We beg We may all take Care of the Tree of Friendship and preserve it by our mutual Attention from any Injuries. We will take Care of it on our Sides, and We hope our Brethren will do so on theirs. We wish this Tree of Friendship may grow up to a great Height, and then We shall be a powerful People.

"Brethren:

"We the United Nations shall rejoice in the Encrease of our Strength, so that all other Nations may stand in Awe of Us. "Brethren:

"I will just tell You what a People We were formerly. If any of our Enemies rise against Us, We had no Occasion to lift up our whole Hand against them, for our little Finger was sufficient. And as We have now made so strong a Confederacy, if We are truly earnest therein We may retrieve the antient Glory of the Five Nations.

"Brethren:

"We have now done, but one Word we must add: The Interpreter, if the French continue their Hostilities, will want any assistance, three or four to be joined with them, but this matter we submit to the Governor. We have now fully finished all that we have to say.'

"The Governor replied:

"Brethren:

"It gives me and all the Commissioners here present great Satisfaction that this Interview has concluded so amicably on all sides. I have ordered thirty Waggons to be provided for your Service, which I expect here to-morrow morning; and I have ordered Provisions for you to serve you on your Journey.

"I hope that by this present Union We shall grow up to a great Height and be as powerful and famous as You were of old.

"As to the Interpreter, when the Circumstances of this Country require it he shall have the necessary Assistance, and I assure You

in the Name of this Government and all the Governments here present that We shall endeavour to extend and preserve the CoveBant Chain by every possible Method in our Power.'

"They asked his Honour when Himself and the Commissioners proposed to return Home. His Honour answered that they had some Matters yet to settle about the Union, and then they should set out for their respective Habitations.

"The Governor then in his own Name and that of the Commissioners wished them a good Journey, and they returned the Compliment, and then the Conferences broke up.

"The answers of the Lieutenant Governor and the Commissioners to the Schaakticook's and River Indians were next read and ordered to be entered as follows:

Children:

"The answer to the Schaakticook Indians.

"We condole with You on the Loss of your old and experienced People.'

"A String.

"Children:

"I and the Commissioners from the other Governments here present are glad to see that altho' You are young and unexperienced, yet You are willing to take Advice and are determined to remain faithful to the King and friendly to all his Subjects.'

"We are glad to find that You treasure up in your Memories the mutual Instances of Friendship between our Ancestors and Your's; the Remembrance of that Friendship will descend to our Posterity, and We desire You to hand it down to Your's, and altho' there is a great Alteration in Circumstances since our Predecessors first came among You, yet We have not less Affection for You than they had.'

"A Belt. "Children:

"Your brightening and strengthening the Covenant Chain is well pleasing to me and the Commissioners. We acknowledge You have never broken it; We have likewise preserved it entire, and are determined to continue to do so.'

"A Belt.

"Children:

"You complain that some of the People of this Province are

in Possession of your Lands which You never sold; this is a Com plaint which affects Persons who live at a Distance. I have ordered Notice to be given them of it, and if upon Enquiry into the Affair it shall appear that You have been injured, I will endeavour to get You redressed, but I shall observe to You that the constant Method of granting Lands in this Province is and has been by Lycence from the Governor to purchase from the Indians, and upon the Purchase being returned before him in Council He with their Advice orders a Patent, and that most of these Lands concerning which You complain were patented when You were Children-some before any of You were born."

"Ordered, That the following Minutes be made, that the last Paragraph of the foregoing Answer to the River Indians about the Manner of patenting Lands in this Province, beginning with the Words I shall observe was an Addition made by his Honour to the Draught sent him yesterday by this Board.

"Col. Johnson, Mr. Chambers, Col. Patridge, and Mr. Hopkins, took their Seats.

"The Plan of the Union was debated and agreed upon, and Mr. Franklin was desired to make a Draught of it as now concluded

upon.

"Adjourned till Five o'Clock this Evening."

"At a Meeting, & on Tuesday the Ninth of July, 1754, P. M.

"The Honourable the Lieutenant Governor and the Four Gentlemen of the Council of New York, and all the Commissioners, except Mr. Franklin, absent by his Appointment in the Morning.

"The Draught of the Representation, & was read and considered Paragraph by Paragraph, some amendments made, and the whole was agreed to and ordered to be minuted as follows:

"That his Majestie's Title to the Northern Continent of America appears to be founded on the Discovery thereof first made, and the Possession thereof first taken in 1497, under a Commission from Henry the Seventh of England to Sebastian Cabot.

"That the French have possessed themselves of several Parts of this Continent, which by Treaties have been ceded And confirmed. to them.

"That the Right of the English to the whole Sea Coast from Georgia on the South to the River Saint Lawrence on the North, excepting the Island of Cape Breton and the Islands in the Bay of Saint Lawrence, remains indisputable.

"That all the Lands or Countries Westward from the Atlantick