The Person who interpreted, returned the Yo-hah at the End of every Paragraph, and having done the same at the Time they declared War, it occasioned Laughter among them; upon which, observing his Mistake, he began the War-Shout, in which all the Indians joined.
The Messesagues are a Nation of Indians, living near the Place called De Troit by the French, and situate between Lake Erie and the Huron Lake.
After the Speaker had finished, his Excellency told them by the Interpreter, that the King their Father had ordered him to make them a Present on this Occasion; and that the Government of Virginia had on the same Occasion, sent them a Present. The Commissioners from Boston at the same Time told them, that they had a Present from their Government; and as they were soon to return Home, desired the Six Nations to come to their Lodgings to receive it; on which the Indians desired his Excellency to delay his Present to next Day, and they immediately went to receive their Presents from the Commissioners of the Massachusets-Bay.
The next Day, the Presents from the King being exposed on one Part, and those from Virginia separately near them, it was agreed by the People of Albany, who had seen many publick Presents given to the Six Nations on Treaties with them, that this was the most valuable ever given. His Excellency on giving the Presents, said;
"Brethren,
"You here see a Token of the Regard the King your Father has for you; and there is a Token of the Friendship of the Government of Virginia: But on this Occasion I cannot forbear taking Notice to you, that some of your People being at Canada, when the News of the Reduction of Cape-Breton came there, and when the French expected that Quebec would be immediately attacked in Consequence of it, several of them joined with the French, and promised them Assistance. This occasioned some Uneasiness to your Brethren, being contrary to the Faith of your Nations, as well as to your Brethren's Expectations; however, you may now, by performing the Promises you Yesterday made in the most solemn Manner, remove all Suspicions; and for ever secure the Friendship of your Brethren, which hitherto has from the Beginning, remained unviolated on their Parts. The Goods now before you, are Presents to the Six Nations; and, as we have received the Messesagues into the Covenant between you and us, I expect that they shall share with you. Besides these general Presents now made to your Nations, I have prepared proper Cloathing for your War-Captains, and the Warriors who shall go under their Command; together with Arms, Ammunition and Provisions, which shall be delivered to the several Parties at the Time they shall go out on Service."
What his Excellency said having been interpreted by a Mohawk Sachem, the Sachem added of his own Head, You now see how you are here treated, really like Brethren; the Governor of Canada does not treat his Indians so; they are set on like his Dogs, and they run on without Thought or Consideration: You see what a noble Present is made to you; if the Governor of Canada should seize all the Goods in that Country, it would not be in his Power to make such a Present.
The Onondaga Sachem, Speaker of the Six Nations, immediately replied,
Brethren of New-York, New-England, and Virginia;
We heard, and observe well, what you now and formerly spoke to us; and we beg no mention may hereafter be made of what passed last Fall, since we are now heartily enter'd into the War with you, and have promised as many fighting Men from each Castle as can be spared; and likewise to engage as great Numbers of every Nation in Alliance with us, as we can, to join immediately with us in the War against the French, and the Nations who adhere to them.