from their settlements was a matter which no Indians could, with any satisfaction, be concerned in, and they thought it most proper for the English themselves to compel their own people to remove from the Indian lands, After this refusal of the Indians who had been appointed to carry the message from the Six Nations, the commissioners in vain attempted to persuade or procure others to execute the business, though they used great endeavors for that purpose; and they thought it both useless and imprudent to continue to press a matter on the Indians, which they found they were generally much averse to; and therefore, concluded to set out on their return to Philadelphia without further delay. But in a short time afterwards Kyashuta came with Arroas (a principal warrior of the Six Nations) to the commissioners at their lodgings, where the former addressed himself to them in effect as follows, viz: "Brethren: I am very sorry to find that you have been disappointed in your expectations of the Indian messengers going to Redstone according to your desire and our agreement; and I am much afraid that you are now going away from us with a discontented mind on this account. Believe me, brethren, this thought fills my heart with the deepest grief, and I could not suffer you to leave us without speaking to you on this subject, and endeavoring to make your minds easy. We were all of us much disposed to comply with your request, and expected it could have been done without any difficulty; but I now find, that not only the Indians appointed by us, but all our other young men are very unwilling to carry a message from us to the white people ordering them to remove from our lands. They say, they would not choose to incur the ill will of those people, for if they should be now removed, they will hereafter return to their settlements, when the English have purchased the country from us, and we shall be very unhappy if, by our conduct towards them at this time, we should give them reason to dislike us, and treat us in an unkind manner, when they again become their neighbors. We therefore hope, brethren, you will not be displeased with us for not performing our agreement with you, for you may be assured that we have good hearts towards all our brethren, the English." The commissioners returned Kyashuta many thanks for his friendly behavior on this occasion; and assured him that they greatly approved of the conduct of all the Indians during the treaty, and that they were now returning home with very easy and contented minds. They further acquainted him, that the reason for urging them to send a message to the Redstone settlers, proceeded entirely from the great anxiety they had of contributing every thing in their power that might expedite that measure taken by the government to do them justice, and redress every injury they complained of. Yet as they found the compliance of their request was disagreeable to the Indians, they should not press the mat. ter on them any further, though it appeared to be a step very necessary to be taken at this time. They then took leave of the Indians in the most friendly manner, and set out on their return to Philadelphia. [NO. XX. ] EXTRACT TAKEN FROM ALEXANDER M'KEE, ESQR'S., Journal of Transactions with the Indians at Pittsburg, &c., from the 1st May, to the 10th June, 1774. May 1st, 1774-Information baving been given that sundry depradations had been committed upon several Indian parties going down the river from this place, (Pittsburg) by the white inhabitants settled upon the Ohio, near Wheeling and Yellow creek, the following message was despatched to King Custaloga, Captains White Eyes, Pipe and such other chiefs as were most contiguous to this place: "Brethren: We are under the necessity, from some disagreeable intelligence which we have just received, of calling upon your immediate attendance at this place, where we shall have some things of importance to communicate to you, which intimately concerns the welfare of us both; this will be sufficient, we expect, to induce your speedy appearance here, as delays upon those occasions may be attended with the most dangerous consequences." A string of white wampum. 3d-A meeting held Col. Croghan's house, at which was present Capt. Connelly, the commandant of the militia, and several inhabitants of Pittsburg, with Keyashuta, the White Mingo, and a deputation of Six Nation Indians, who were here upon their way with speeches from Sir William Johnson to the Huron and Wabash confederacy. "Brethren: Wo are sorry to inform you, that we have lately received accounts of some outrages being committed upon several of your people going down the Ohio, by some ill-disposed white persons settled upon it, and we take the earliest opportunity of making you acquainted with what we have heard, in order to convince you that we discountenance so barbarous a breach of our friendship with you; and we can assure you, that it has not been done with the intent or knowledge of government; and we make no doubt your brother, the Governor of Virginia, when he becomes fully acquainted with the circumstances of the unhappy loss you have sustained in so many of your people, that he and his wise men will fall upon the most salutary measures of doing you every justice that can be expected. In the meantime, we have to recommend to you in the most earnest manner, your affording every assistance in your power to accommodate this unfortunate breach which has happened, as you must be sensible that a general difference between us must be attended with the greatest calamity on both sides." A belt of wampum. After some time they returned for answer: "Brethren, the English: We have considered what you have said to us, and as the chiefs of the Delawares are expected in this night, or tomorrow, we will consult with them, and then know what reply to make. But you may depend upon it, that we shall do every thing in our power to keep things quiet, which we make no doubt can be done, from the general peaceable disposition of our people, provided you will be strong upon your parts, in preventing your rash people from commencing any further hostilities upon the Indians." A string of wampum. 4th-Arrived Captains White Eyes, Pipe, and Samuel Compass, brother to one of the Delaware Indians lately murdered in the trader's canoe, with several other chiefs and principal men of the Delawares. The same evening they proceeded to the Six Nation village at Pine creek, in order to consult with the chiefs there, and be informed of what passed already between them and us. ༞ 《༥༩ May 5th, at a condolence held with the Six Nations, Delawares, Shawanese, Munsies, Mohickons and Twightwees, who are the several nations that have been sufferers in the late unfortunate disturbances. Present-Captain CONNELLY, Commandant, and a number of other gentlemen. Six Nation Indians-KEYASHUTA, WHITE MINGO, and the Delawares-Captain WHITE EYES, PIPE, KEYKEWENUM and "Brethren: It was with the deepest concern that we informed you two days ago, of the late unhappy deaths of some of your friends; and it adds much to our grief upon this occcsion, when we consider that some of our rash, inconsiderate people have been accessory thereto. We condole with you, and bewail the misfortunes you have suffered, and as a testimony of our sincerity, we deliver you these strings of wampum." A string to each nation. "Brethren: We wipe the tears from your eyes, and remove the grief which this melancholy circumstance may have impressed upon your hearts, that you may be enabled to look upon your brethren, the English, with the same friendship as usual, and listen to them with the like goodness of heart as formerly, when no evil disturbed your minds." A string to each nation. "Brethren: We now collect the bones of your deceased people, and wrap them up in those goods which we have prepared for that purpose, and we likewise inter them, that every remembrance of uneasiness upon this head may be extinguished, and also buried in oblivion." Delivered a condolence present. "Brethren: We have now, conformable to your custom, condoled with you in the usual manner upon such occasions, and we are to request some of your chiefs present, who have the most influence with the distant tribes, to proceed to them with the greatest expedition, with what you have now heard, as it is highly necessary that we should be made acquainted without delay, with the result of their councils upon the present circumstances of affairs; as well as it may be useful for them to be informed of our sentiments thereupon, and that the stroke they, have received is not only contrary to the judgment of every wise man amongst us, but all authority, which consequently will be extended to do them justice; therefore, these facts ought to have great weight in TO their determination at this time. And as a further proof of our uprightness towards them, two of the gentlemen here present will accompany you in the execution of this good work." A string of wampum. Captain Connelly then addressed the Indians as follows: "Brethren: I am very sorry to find that a dispute has happened between our people and yours, which has been attended with bad consequences to both parties. You ought to be certain, brothers, that our wise men had no act or part in what has happened, and that it was entirely owing to the folly and indiscretion of our young people, which you know, like your own young men, are unwilling to listen to good advice. As to the particulars of what has happened, we yet do not know; we are sure, however, that people are killed on both sides; but hope, as the dispute happened only between the young and foolish people, that it will not engage our wise men in a quarrel, in which none of us had a part. It is, however, brothers, very unlucky that any differences should have happened between us at this time, as the great head man of Virginia, and all his wise people, are just going to meet together to counsel about the settling in this country bought from you, the Six Nations, and to give orders to their young men which may come to be your neighbors, to be kind and friendly toward you; and likewise, I expect they will buy goods to clothe your old people and children, to brighten the chain of friendship between us, and to convince you that we will be as friendly towards you as your late neighbors from Pennsyl vania were; and therefore, I desire you brothers, not to listen to what some lying people may tell you to the contrary; for although we are always ready to fight our enemies, yet we will show our true and steady friendship upon every occasion when necessary." A string of wampum. Captain White Eyes, on behalf of the Indians present, made the following answer: "Brethren, the English: We have heard with satisfaction the several speeches you have now delivered to us, and we return you our sincerest thanks for the friendship and concern you have been pleased to express for us, upon this occasion; we cannot doubt of your uprightness towards us, and that the mischief done to us, has been contrary to your intent and desire, which we believe has arisen entirely from the evil minded persons, who have been the perpetrators of it; therefore, it is incumbent upon us to aid you with our best assistance, as the great and good work of peace has been established between us, by the labor and pains of our greatest and wisest men; it ought not to be disturbed by the folly or imprudence of any rash people whatever; who, hereafter, refusing to pay due obedience to good advice, or offering to slip their hands from the chain of friendship, it will be our duty to chastise, should those examples of violence, before their eyes, have this effect. Brethren, I will carry your messages to the other nations they are intended for, myself, as it is a business too serious to be trifled with, or boys to be employed on; it is the happiness of ourselves, our women and children, and every thing dear to us, that we are endeavoring to preserve; therefore, there can be no doubt that I shall speak my sentiments fully and truely to all nations upon it." A large string of white wampum. Kayashuta then returned Captain White Eyes thanks, in behalf of the Six Nations present, and told him, as he had delivered their sentiments fully in the foregoing speech, it was needless for them to say any thing more upon the subject, but desire him to be strong in restoring the tranquillity of the country, and that one of his people should accompany him in this good undertaking. May 9th-A speech delivered by several chiefs, Six Nations and Del awares: "Brother, the Governor of Virginia: No doubt you have been informed by the officer commanding at this place, of the misfortunes which have lately happened in this country; and we now declare to you, as well as all our brethren, the English, that we had no suspicion of so much mischief being done, as we have always, on our parts, made it our constant study to promote the peace subsisting between our brethren, the English, and us; and we also assure you, that we still continue to preserve that chain of priendship; and we hope such of you, our brethren, the white people, who are in authority, will do every thing in your powers to prevent your rash people from committing further hostilities upon us. "Brother: We have to request you in a particular manner, to be strong, and consider what may be best to be done with those flagrant offenders of our peace. As to us, we have the satisfaction to inform you, that we have received a message from the lower towns, informing us, that all the Indians there remained quiet, and that they have submitted the loss they have sustained, to the candor and justice of your wise people." A belt. May 16th-A message delivered by five principal men of the Delawares, from Custalogo: "Brethren, the English: I have received your several messages since the outrages committed upon the Indians, and with respect to my people, I assure you, that we are perfectly well pleased with them. Our young men are following their employments as usual, relying entirely upon your sincerity, and the hopes of your great men's doing every thing in their power, to redress the breach in our friendship. We have, therefore, also to hope, that what you have said to us upon this head, comes from your hearts, and not with a design to amuse or deceive us, as we are, upon our parts, heartily disposed to preserve the strictest friendship with you." A string. "May 17th-Brother Custalogo: We are glad to find by message, that you and your tribe are so well satisfied with our endeavors to reconcile the bad conduct of some rash unthinking people, so injurious to the peace subsisting between you and us. The measures, however, as well as concern we have shown you upon this occasion, must be sufficient to convince you of the desire we have, to live in unity with all our Indian brethren; and although the folly of a few individuals had given you cause of complaint, yet the general conduct of your brethren, the English, towards you, must convince you of their sincerity, as well as justice." A string. May 21st-Arrived two messengers from New Comerstown, and delivered the following speech in writing: |