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

Captain-General and Governor in Chief of the Province of New-York, and the Territories thereon depending in America, Vice-Admiral of the same, and Vice-Admiral of the Red Squadron of His Majesty's Fleet.

AND

The Six United Indian Nations, and other Indian Nations, depending on the Province of NEW-YORK.

Held at ALBANY in the Months of August and September, 1746.

A TREATY between his Excellency the Governor of the Province of New-York, and the Six Nations, and other Indian Nations, depending on said Province.

It is well known in the Province of New-York, that the Six Nations of Indians depending on this Province, (called Iroquois by the French) had lately on several Occasions, appear'd dissatisfied and wavering in their Fidelity to the British Crown. No doubt, this was principally occasion'd by the Artifices of the French of Canada, who had constantly Emissaries among them: But at the same Time there is Reason to think, the suspicious Behaviour of these Nations, in Favour of their once inveterate Enemy the French, could not have arriv'd to the Pitch it did, otherwise than by some Neglects or Misconduct of those who were entrusted by the Government of New-York with the Management of the Indian Affairs.

His Excellency the Governor of New-York, having received his Majesty's Commands, to engage the Indian Nations depending on his Government, to join in the Expedition then intended against Canada, and to make them the usual Presents on that Occasion; and being sensible of the great Use these Nations might be to the Success of this Enterprize, and likewise of the Difficulties that probably might attend his Endeavours at this Time, was desirous to have had the Assistance of as many of the Members of his Majesty's Council as the Circumstances of Affairs would permit; but they all declined to give their Attendance, except Mr. Colden and Mr. Livingston. His Excellency was therefore obliged to act with the smallest Number of Members, which by his Majesty's Commission can form a Council, viz. Three; the above two Gentlemen and Capt. Rutherford, who was then at his Post in Albany.

As soon as his Excellency received his Majesty's Commands, he dispatched from Albany such Persons as, by the best Information he could receive, had Influence among the Six Nations, to invite them severally to meet him at Albany, on the 20th of July. His Excellency arriv'd at Albany the 21st of July, where having heard, that, besides the Small-Pox, (which his Excellency never had) many were sick of a contagious malignant Fever, he continued on board the Sloop which carried him up, to consider where to lodge with the least Danger to his Person from the Infection of these Distempers; and the next Morning resolved to go into the Fort. He was received at his Landing with the usual Marks of Respect from the Corporation, the independent Companies of regular Troops then in the Place, and the Militia, under a Discharge of the Cannon of the Fort and Town.

In the Afternoon of the same Day on which his Excellency came on shore, three Indians, viz. two Onandagos and an Oneydo, brought two French Scalps and presented to his Excellency: At which Time the Leader of the Party made a formal Speech to the following Purpose: 'That having had repeated Accounts of the Mischiefs done by the French, and of the frequent Murders committed by them, and that the Mohawks, notwithstanding their Professions of Friendship, suffered this Bloodshed to remain unrevenged, his Heart could bear it no longer; he thereupon resolved to open for his Brethren the Path to Revenge: That these two Scalps which he now presented were taken at Noonday in sight of the French Fort at Crown Point.' His Excellency told him how well he took this special Mark of his Fidelity, and assured him, that he would not only now reward him and his Companions, by particular Presents, but would always remember this Act of Friendship. They had already received the Reward given by the Act of Assembly. His Excellency gave each of them four Spanish Dollars; to the Leader a fine laced Coat and Hat, and a silver Breast-Plate; and to each of the others a Stroud Blanket and lac'd Hat.

These Indians told us, that they lay several Days among the Bushes, from whence they could see every Man that came out of the Fort-Gate. They endeavoured for some time to take a Prisoner, but observing that none went to such a Distance from the Fort that they could hope to carry him off, they resolved to take the first Opportunity for a Scalp: Two Soldiers coming out of the Fort, after the Chapel Bell had rung about Noon, one of the Indians, by their Leader's Order, fired with Swan Shot upon them while they were near to each other. It is a constant Rule among these sculking Parties, never to fire without Orders from their Leader. One of the French Men was killed upon the Spot, the other wounded, and fled immediately towards the Fort Gate, the Indian who had fired, pursu'd, and with his Hatchet brought him down within a hundred Steps of the Fort Gate; and, though the French in the Fort rushed out at the Gate, he took his Scalp off; the others had scalped the Man that was first killed, and then they all fled. The French in their Hurry had run out without their Arms, and upon recollecting themselves return'd to arm, which facilitated the Escape of the Indians.