the next Day, and named to him a Person who they said was the Author of this false Alarm. The Person being sent for, owned his having heard and mentioned the Report, but denyed his being the Author of it.

"After the strictest Enquiry and Examination, the Governor and Council seemed to blieve him Innocent, and that the Rumour had been raised and spread by means of one or more of the Mohawks themselves.

"On the Tenth of October the Speech proposed to be delivered to the Indians by the Governor of New-York being prepared, we were desired to meet the other Commissioners and hear the same read. Accordingly, about Ten of the Clock in the forenoon we met them; the Speech was read, after which it was objected on the part of Pennsylvania that it contained a Narrative of many Facts to which we were altogether Strangers, and therefore were not proper to be made Parties in the Relation; That it pressed the Indians on making of War, which we thought might be attended with mischevious Consequences to all the Colonies; That as we were to treat seperately, and they had already heard our Reasons against a War, they must judge for themselves how far it would be prudent in them to press it. The Result was, the Commissioners of the other Colonies agreed to the Speech as it had been prepared; and in the afternoon of the same Day the Deputies of the United Nations were desired to attend the Governor of New York. They came accordingly, and the Governor, in behalf of his Government, and those of the Massachussetts and Connecticut, and in the presence of the Commissioners from thence read the Speech agreed on, which was Interpreted to the Indians: A Copy whereof was delivered to Us, and follows in these Words, viz.:.

"Brethren:

"Here are present upon the occasion of this Interview Commissioners from the Governments of the Massachusetts Bay and Connecticut, conven'd with me on the same righteous Intention of Renewing, Bright'ning, and Strengthening the Covenant Chain which has tied you and his Britannick Majesty's several Colonies on this Continent in the firmest Engagements to each other for Supporting and Maintaining our Common Cause.

"We are glad to see so many of our Brethren, and we bid You welcome here; at the same time that we heartily condole the absence of our Brethren the Senecas and the Calamities which have occasioned it; may the Almighty comfort them under their griev ous Afflictions, and soon wipe off all Tears from their Eyes.

"We do with you our Brethren, and with you as their Representatives, ratify, confirm, and extablish all former Engagements enter'd into by us and our Brethren of the Six United Nations; and

assure You that we shall ever hold them invioble, and we doubt not of the same from You.'

"A Belt.

"Brethren:

"The Rumour which last Winter gave an Alarm to our Brethren the Maquas, and was from thence spread to the other Nations, now appears to have been without Foundation; and I cannot help observing on this occasion that you ought not for the future to suffer any such Idle Tales to be raised or propogated among You, as they not only tend to seperate your and our Affections each from the other, but also to make us Jealous of our own People without sufficient Grounds for it.'

"A String of Wampum.

"Brethren:

"It must be further observed to You that we hear several of the Cheifs and others of our Brethren of the Six Nations have, contrary to our Inclinations, & against our express advice, had an Interview with the Governor of Canada this Summer at Montreal;

"And that your pretence for holding this Correspondence with our Declared Enemies was for the public Good and the Preservation of the House at Oswego;

"To tell the Governor of Canada that they must not make any Attempt or Attack upon that Place, for that our Brethren are resolved to defend it; and that it shall remain a Place of Peace and Trade.

"You declared your Intent was good, and that the Governor of Canada should never prevail upon You in any thing hurtful to your Brethren the English, who you know did not like your going thither; that yet upon your return from thence, your Brother the Governor of New York should know all that passed between them and the Governor of Canada.

"We will tell our Brethren what we hear was done whilst they were with the Governor of Canada; and we expect the whole Truth from them according to their Promise, and whether what we hear is true or not.

"We hear that whilst our Brethren were with the Governor of Canada the French Indians took up the Hatchet against the English, which we believe to be true for Reasons you shall hear by and by; and thereby the Treaty of Neutrality concluded between you and them is become vain.

"We hear, likewise, that our Brethren of the Six Nations there present were so far prevailed upon by our Enemies the French, as to accept of the Hatchet upon Condition to carry it home to their Council to deliberate upon, and then to return the Governor of Canada their Answer, which we cannot believe to be true till we have it from our Brethrens' own Mouths.

"We expect a plain and full Answer from our Brethren concerning these Matters that the way may be cleared for wiping off all stains from the Covenant Chain, and that we may preserve it Bright, firm, & inviolable, as long as the Sun shall shine."

"A Belt.

"Brethren :

"We must now acquaint you of some Things relating to the War, the Success of His Majesty's Arms against the French in this part of the World, and the rise and occasion of our Attacks upon the Enemy in this quarter.

"When You were here last Summer you were told that War was Declared between the Crowns of Great Britain and France. The Events that have since happened are too numerous to relate particularly.

"His Majesty's Subjects in this Country lay still the last Summer without attempting any Thing against the French Settlements; But the French first Attack'd and Destroyed a small Place belonging to Us call'd Canso, about Twenty five Leagues from Cape Breton.

"Afterwards they laid Seige to Annapolis Royal, but therein they proved unsuccessful.

"They then agreed to make another Trial for that Place next Spring, and in the mean time they sent to France, hoping to obtain some of the King's Ships to facilitate the Reduction of it.

"They having proceeded thus far, Mr. Shirley, the Governor of the Massachusetts Bay, thought it high time to do something to curb the Insolence of that haughty People, and did therefore raise a small Army, which was joined by a number of Men from the Governments of Connecticut and New Hampshire, and sent them. early last Spring against Louisbourgh.

"They were likewise joined by a number of His Majesty's Ships of War, and after about Seven Weeks' Seige that Important and strong fortified Place was, through the goodness of Divine Providence, delivered up to our Forces.

"Whereupon the rest of the Inhabitants of the Island of Cape Breton, together with those that were Settled in parts adjacent, surrendered themselves Prisoners to the English.

"And during the Siege and since many French Ships were taken, and divers of them of great value, and the Design of the French against Annapolis Royal was frustrated.

"We have in this part of the Country lain still, both the last Summer and this, hoping that our Neighbours in Canada would either be quiet or carry on the War in a manly and Christian-like Manner.

"And to induce them thereto, a Message was sent from this Place

to the Government of Canada last Summer, by which he was assured that if he should renew their former vile Practice of treating His Majesty's Subjects inhumanly, the several Governors, together with the Six Nations, would join and make Reprisals on them.

"And at the same time You publickly declared that if any of His Majesty's Subjects in any of his Governments should be killed by any Indian, you would immediately join in the War against them and the French.

"You likewise sent Your Delegates last Summer to the Eastern Indians to warn them not to engage in the War against the English, threatening them in case they should do so.

"Notwithstanding these Things, divers Hostilities have been

committed.

"Some Months ago the Eastern Indians, who had formerly acknowledged their Subjection to the Crown of Great Britain, entred into Solemn Engagements with the King's Subjects, and had been since treated by them with great Kindness.

"But at the Instigation of the French, they have lately kill'd one Englishman and also great numbers of Horses and Cattle, burnt a Saw Mill and many Dwelling Houses, and attack'd an English Garrison.

"Notwithstanding such outrageous Insults, the Governor of Massachusetts-Bay was so tender of them that he resented it no further then to send a Message to them demanding the Delivery of the Murderers as they would avoid the Consequences of their Neglect.

"This Proposal was rejected by them, and since that time they have killed two or there others; whereupon the Governor of the Massachusetts declared War against them.

"And we are informed the English have killed two of them, and taken another Prisoner.

"About three Months since some of the Canada Indians killed two Englishmen near Connecticut River; the Body of one of them was treated in a most barbarous manner, by which they left a Hatchet of War, thereby daring Us to take it up and return it.

"There has likewise been several other Parties that have attempted to destroy His Majesty's Subjects of New England, but have hitherto been prevented.

"These Facts plainly shew that the French are still acted by the same Spirit that they were formerly governed by; and they seem never pleased but when they are at War, either with the English or some of the Tribes of the Indians; and if they had it in their Power they would doubtless destroy all about them.

"It is likewise Evident that the most Solemn and Sacred Engagements are broken through by those Indians that have committed the late Murders.

"The Belts of Wampum will not bind them to the performance of their Promisses.

"That we are Slighted, and you Contemned, as though they thought you not worthy to be regarded.

"But now the French and their Indians, by the little Regard they have shewn to your threatnings or to the Covenants they have made with you, do declare that they think you do not intend to perform what you have threatned, or that they do not fear your Displeasure; both which do reflect equal dishonour on You.

"It is high time for Us & You to exert ourselves and vindicate our Honour; and although it is well known that we delight not in the Destruction of our Fellow creatures, but have chosen rather to suffer ourselves to be abused, yet we cannot think ourselves obliged any longer to bear their Insults and evil Treatment.

"Therefore, since neither our peaceable Dispositions nor Examples, nor any methods we have been able to use, have been sufficient to prevail upon them to forbear their barbarous Treatment of us, but they will force our Resentments, in the Name of God we are resolved not only to defend ourselves, but by all proper Ways and Methods to endeavour to put it out of their Power to misuse and evil Treat us as they have hitherto done.

"And we doubt not of your ready and chearful Concurrence with Us, agreeable to your solemn promise made in this Place last Summer, in joining with us against our Enemies the French, and such Indians as are or shall be instigated by them; for we esteem them enemies to God, as well as to all their Fellow-creatures who dwell round about them.'

"A large Belt with the Figure of a Hatchet hung to it.

"The Publick Affairs of my Government have prevented my Meeting you sooner.

"I was apprehensive I should not have been able to meet You this Fall, and it was determined upon sudden, so that there could not be timely Notice sent to the rest of His Majesty's Governments, or, I doubt not, they would likewise have sent Commissioners to be present at this Interview.

"We are all Subjects to the same Prince, united in the same Bonds of duty and Allegiance to the Great King our Common Father, and in Friendship and Affection to each other; and in this Union consists that Strength that makes us formidable to our Ene mies, and them fearful of our Resentments.

"We are all united with You in the same Covenant-Chain, which as long as we preserve it free from Rust, must remain impregnable: And you on your parts have declared that you will preserve it so strong and bright that it shall not be in the Power of the Devil himself, with all his Wiles and Art, to break or dirty it.