[At the End of the foregoing Paragraph, the Speaker threw down a War-Belt of Wampum on the Ground, it being the Indian Custom to deliver War-Belts, or make Declaration of War in this Manner: This he did with a remarkable Shew of Indignation, intending thereby to express their Resentment against the French and their Allies, and their Zeal for the English.] [Gave a Belt.]
Brother of New-York; According to your Exhortation in your Speech to us, we are firmly united together from this Time, to act as having one Heart; the Messesagues are in the same Manner joined and united with us, likewise the Southern Nations bordering upon us; and we hope that you, and the other Governors on the Continent, will be in the same Manner joined and united together. [Gave a Belt.]
[They repeated over his Excellency's Speech in Relation to the Conquest of Cape-Breton; and added, We hope that our Fleet and Army will be also victorious in the present Expedition against Canada; for the French are a mischievous People.] [Gave a Belt.]
As to your Suspicions of our admitting French Priests among us, they are become groundless, since we have now declared War against them: The admitting of Priests, would only tend to lull us asleep to our Destruction; should any now dare to come, we know no Use for them but to roast them. The Thoughts of the Treatment we formerly received from the French, thro' the Means of their Priests, and which you now seasonably have brought to our Remembrance, makes our Blood to boil.
Brother of New-York; This is the second Time you have put the Hatchet into our Hands, which we accept, and are ready to go upon Service. You may see that we have but a Handful of fighting Men here at present; however, some of them from each Nation shall be left behind us to follow your Orders.
When we return to our respective Castles, we shall send down a great Number of our Warriors, and of those of the Nations in Alliance with us, as soon as possible.
This we assure you of from the Truth and Sincerity of our Hearts; and we receive, and shall preserve this large Belt, [holding it up at the same Time] which you have now given us, as a War-Hatchet.
Brethren, This is the Belt of Union with which we are to go Hand in Hand to the Gate of our Enemies, and by it we declare our Intention to conquer or die in the common Cause.
There is a Nation call'd the Messesagues, whose Delegates are here present: They consist of five Castles, containing eight hundred Men, who are all determined, and do agree to join us, in this common Cause, against our Enemies the French, and their Indians; and we hope you, and the Commissioners from Boston, will use them in such a Manner that they will go home content and satisfied.
[Gave a Belt of Union, in which the Figures of several Persons join'd Hand in Hand, was wrought.]