_Onutpe_, }
_Lawye quohwon_ alias _Nutimus_, } Chiefs.
_Toweghkappy_,
_Cornelius Spring_, and others.
CONRAD WEISER,
CORNELIUS SPRING,
_Interpreters_.
And a great Number of the
Inhabitants of _Philadelphia_.
The Governor, having commanded Silence, spoke as follows:
_Friends and Brethren of the Six Nations_,
'Six Years ago a Number of your Chiefs obliged us with a Visit, when
they agreed, on Behalf of your Nations, to the Release of certain Lands
on both Sides the River _Susquehanna_, to the Southward of the
_Endless-Mountains_, and within the Limits and Bounds of the King's
Grant of this Province. In Consideration of which, a certain Quantity of
Goods was agreed on and delivered as a full Satisfaction for the said
Lands lying on the Eastern Side of the said River: And for the Lands on
the Western Side of the said River, you desired the Payment should be
deferr'd till another Opportunity. These Goods, which are exactly the
same in Quantity as those you received the last Time the Chiefs of your
Nations were here, have been ready a considerable Time, and kept in
Expectation of your Coming for them: And now you are come down fully
impowered by your respective Councils to receive them, we are well
pleased to deliver them: Leaving it to you to make a fair and equal
Division of them amongst yourselves. We are sorry for the Absence of our
Brethren the _Senecas_, and much more so that it should be owing to
their Distress at Home by a Famine that rages in their Country:--A
Famine so great, that you tell us a Father has been obliged to sacrifice
one Part of his Family, even his own Children, for the Support and
Preservation of himself and the other Part.--We heartily commiserate
their Condition, and do not doubt but you will do them fair and ample
Justice in the Disposal of their Part of the Goods in such Manner as
they have instructed you. You shall now hear the List of the Goods read
to you.'
Here, by the Governor's Order, the List of the Goods was read over,
_viz._
500 _Pounds of Powder_.
600 _Pounds of Lead_.
45 _Guns_.
60 _Strowd-Matchcoats_.
100 _Blankets_.
100 _Duffil Matchcoats_.
200 _Yards Half-thick_.
100 _Shirts_.
40 _Hats_.
40 _Pair of Shoes & Buckles_.
40 _Pair of Stockings_.
100 _Hatchets_.
500 _Knives_.
100 _Hoes_.
60 _Kettles_.
100 _Tobacco-Tongs_.
100 _Scissars_.
500 _Awl-Blades_.
120 _Combs_.
2000 _Needles_.
1000 _Flints_.
24 _Looking-Glasses_.
2 _Pounds of Vermilion_.
100 _Tin Pots_.
1000 _Tobacco-Pipes_.
200 _Pounds of Tobacco_.
24 _Dozen of Gartering, &_
25 _Gallons of Rum_.
Then the Governor told them that the Goods, of which the Particulars had
been just Read to them, were in the Meeting-House, and would be sent to
whatever Place they would direct.
The Governor then proceeded:
'_BRETHREN_,
'You have often heard of the Care that your great and good Friend and
Brother _William Penn_ took at all Times to cultivate a perfect good
Harmony with all the _Indians_: Of this your Nations have ever been
fully sensible; but more especially a Number of your Chiefs, about ten
Years ago, when, on the Arrival of a Son of your said great Friend
_William Penn_, large and valuable Presents were exchanged by us with
you; a new Road was made and clear'd; a new Fire kindled; and the Chain
of Friendship made stronger, so as to last while the Sun and Moon
endure.
'And now we cannot but congratulate ourselves that your Coming should
happen at a Time when we are in daily Expectation of a War being
declared between the King of _England_, and the _French_ King, well
knowing, that should such a War happen, it must very sensibly affect
you, considering your Situation in the Neighbourhood of _Canada_. Your
Coming at this Juncture is particularly fortunate, since it gives us an
Opportunity of mentioning several Things that may be necessary to be
settled between People so strictly and closely united as we are.--An
Union not to be express'd by any thing less than the affectionate
Regards which Children of the same Parents bear for each other, as
conceiving ourselves to be one Flesh and one People.
'The utmost Care therefore ought mutually to be taken by us on both
Sides, that the Road between us be kept perfectly clear and open, and no
Lets, nor the least Obstruction be suffered to lie in the Way; or if any
should by Accident be found, that may hinder our free Intercourse and
Correspondence, it must forthwith be removed.
_To inforce this, We lay down a String of_ Wampum.
'In next Place, We, on our Part, shall inlarge our Fire that burns
between us. We shall provide more Fewel to increase it and make it burn
brighter and clearer, and give a stronger and more lasting Light and
Warmth.
_In Evidence of our sincere Intentions, We lay down this Belt
of_ Wampum.
'In the last Place, considering the Obligations we are mutually under by
our several Treaties, _That we should hear with our Ears for you, and
you hear with your Ears for us_. We shall at all Times very willingly
give you the earliest and best Intelligence of any Designs that may be
form'd to your Disadvantage.--And if you discover any Preparations that
can hurt us, we desire you will immediately dispatch some suitable
Person in whom we can place a Confidence, to give us a proper
Information.'
_To inforce this Request, as well as to brighten the Chain, we
lay down this other Belt of_ Wampum.
On the Governor's concluding the Speech, the solemn Cry, by way of
Approbation, was repeated by the _Indians_, as many Times as there were
Nations present; and then _Canassateego_ rose up and spoke.
'_BRETHREN_, [Transcriber's Note: original has "BRRTHREN"]
'We thank you for your kind Speech: What you have said is very agreeable
to us; and to-morrow when we have deliberated on the several Matters
recommended to us, we will give you our Answer. We desire, as our Time
will be wholly taken up in Council, you will order the Goods to be
carried back to the Proprietaries to prevent their being lost, and that
they may continue there till we call for them.'
* * * * *
At a COUNCIL held in the Meeting-House, _July_ 7. 1742.