Papers Relating to an Act of the Assembly of the Province of New-York / For encouragement of the Indian trade, &c. and for prohibiting the selling of Indian goods to the French, viz. of Canada

by Cadwallader Colden; Great Britain. Board of Trade; Great Britain. Privy Council; New York . Council

Six Nations.

Conrad Weiser

, Interpreter.

The Commissioners of Virginia ordered the Interpreter to let the Indians know the Government of Virginia was going to speak to them, and then they spoke as follows:

Sachems and Warriors of the Six United Nations, our Friends and Brethren,

At our Desire the Governor of Pensylvania invited you to this Council Fire; we have waited a long Time for you, but now you are come, you are heartily welcome; we are very glad to see you; we give you this String of Wampum.

Which was received with their usual Approbation.

Brethren,

In the Year 1736, four of your Sachems wrote a Letter to James Logan, Esq; then President of Pensylvania, to let the Governor of Virginia know that you expected some Consideration for Lands in the Occupation of some of the People of Virginia. Upon seeing a Copy of this Letter, the Governor, with the Council of Virginia, took some Time to consider of it. They found, on looking into the old Treaties, that you had given up your Lands to the Great King, who has had Possession of Virginia above One Hundred and Sixty Years, and under that Great King the Inhabitants of Virginia hold their Land, so they thought there might be some Mistake.

Wherefore they desired the Governor of New-York to enquire of you about it. He sent his Interpreter to you in May, 1743, who laid this before you at a Council held at Onandago, to which you answer, "That if you had any Demand or Pretensions on the Governor of Virginia any way, you would have made it known to the Governor of New-York." This corresponds with what you have said to Governor Thomas, in the Treaty made with him at Philadelphia in July, 1742; for then you only make your Claim to Lands in the Government of Maryland.