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

As there was no Advice of the Arrival of the Fleet, and no Plan of Operations agreed on in Case the Fleet did not arrive, the supporting of about seven hundred Indians was a great Expence to his Excellency, for which he had no Allowance from the Province of New-York, or for any other Charge attending this Treaty: And as many of the Indians, (above twenty) had got the Small-pox, it being impracticable to prevent their going into Town, or conversing with the Town's People, and the Indians becoming uneasy by Reason of the Sickness of many, and Death of some; his Excellency thought it most prudent to dismiss them as soon as possible from this Place, and to give Orders to Mr. Johnson, to send out several Parties from Schenectade, or his own Settlement near the lower Mohawk Castle, to harrass the French Settlements in Canada; and for that Purpose delivered to him Cloathing, Arms and Ammunition, to be given to the fighting Men, as his Excellency had promised them whenever they entered on Service, and impowered him to furnish them with Provisions, and whatever Necessaries they should want.

Before they went, his Excellency sent to them, to desire them to leave their Sick, with a Promise to take all Care possible of them, and that he would order Physicians to attend them. They were very sensible of this Kindness, and acknowledged it; but not above two or three could be prevailed to stay, who were so ill that they could not be removed: All possible Care was taken of the other Sick, in the Waggons which carried them to Schenectade.

On the 26th of September, the Captains Staats and Vromen, brought the Indians living on the Branches of the Susquehannah River; they came in the Indian Order, marching in a single Line one after the other, and as they passed the Fort, saluted by a running Fire along the Line; which Salute the Governor ordered to be returned, by a Discharge of some Cannon from the Fort.

On Monday the 8th of the same Month his Excellency spoke to them, telling them the Substance of what he had ordered to be said to the Six Nations, and their Answer; and as this has been set forth at Length before, it is needless to repeat what was then said. The Reason of his Excellency's speaking to them in this Manner was, because these Nations living on the Susquehannah River and its Branches, are known to be Dependents on the Six Nations.

The next Day they gave their Answer; the Gentlemen of the Council, the Commissioners for Indian Affairs, the Corporation of Albany, the Officers of the four Independent Companies, and several Officers of the new Levies, and other Gentlemen being present, as they were when his Excellency spoke to the Indians: Their Answer was publickly interpreted as follows;

Brother of New-York,

We live at Ohguago; what News you send to the Six Nations is not truly reported to us, nor what the Governor of Canada sends to them; we have not been properly taken Notice of, nor timely acquainted with your Design to treat with the Six Nations, till near the Time that your Interview with them was over; otherwise we should have readily come along with them, to hear what our Brother had to propose to us; and if we had received earlier Notice, a much larger Number of our fighting Men would have come along with us: Our Settlements are scattering, and some of them at a great Distance from others, and many of our Men are from Home a hunting; we have, however, sent the Belt of Invitation forward to those who live at a greater Distance, that they may be able at the Time appointed, to come and join us in the War, as by your Belt we were desired.

Brother, You Yesterday informed us of what you had said to the Six Nations, and their Answer; we are grieved that the Six Nations have not already made use of the Hatchet, but have hitherto kept it by them, and have not sent out their young Men to revenge the Murders which have been committed by the Enemy.

We are resolved to make use of the Hatchet against the French, to revenge the Injuries done to you and your People, our Brethren.

We have received at Times very different Kind of News from the Six Nations, sometimes it seemed as if the French would be Masters; but it cannot be so, they are a deceitful People, and cannot be trusted; they make fair Promises, and have no Intention to perform them; they flatter themselves with Hopes to be Masters, but they shall be disappointed; for we shall keep the Hatchet firmly in our Hands, and are resolved to make Use of it.