The Honourable _G E O R G E T H O M A S_, Esq; Lieutenant-Governor.
_James Logan_, Esq;
_Clement Plumsted_, Esq;
_Samuel Hasell_, Esq;
_Robert Strettell_, Esq;
_Samuel Preston_, Esq;
_Ralph Asheton_, Esq;
_Thomas Lawrence_, Esq;
Mr. _Peters_.
The Governor informed the Board, that the _Indian_ Chiefs dining with
him Yesterday, after Dinner delivered their Answer to two Affairs of
Consequence:
The first related to the violent Battery committed on _William Webb_, in
the Forks of _Delaware_, whereby his Jaw-bone was broke, and his Life
greatly endangered, by an unknown _Indian_. _Canassatego_ repeating the
Message delivered to the _Six Nations_ by _Shickcalamy_, in the Year
1740, with a String of Wampum, said in Answer: 'The _Six Nations_ had
made diligent Enquiry into the Affair, and had found out the _Indian_
who had committed the Fact; he lived near _Asopus_, and had been
examined and severely reprov'd: And they hoped, as _William Webb_ was
recovered, the Governor would not expect any further Punishment; and
therefore they returned the String of Wampum received from their
Brethren, by the Hand of _Shickcalamy_, in Token that they had fully
complied with their Request.'
I thank'd them, said he, for their Care; but reminded them, that though
the Man did not die, yet he lay a long Time in extreme Misery, and would
never recover the free Use of his Speech, and was rendered less able to
get his Livelihood; and in such Cases the _English_ Laws obliged the
Assailant to make good all Damages, besides paying for the Pain
endured.--But as the _Indian_ was, in all Probability, poor and unable
to make Satisfaction, I told them, that for their Sake I would forgive
him; adding, had _Webb_ died, I make no Doubt but you would have put the
_Indian_ to Death, just as we did two of our People who had killed an
_Indian_; we caused them to be hung on a Gallows, in the Presence of
many Hundreds of our People, to deter all others from doing the like.
_Canassatego_ made me this Reply: 'The _Indians_ know no Punishment but
Death; they have no such Thing as pecuniary Mulcts; if a Man be guilty
of a Crime, he is either put to Death, or the Fault is overlook'd. We
have often heard of your Hanging-up those two Persons; but as none of
our _Indians_ saw the Men die, many believe they were not hanged, but
transported to some other Colony: And it would be satisfactory to the
_Indians_, if, for the future, some of them be sent for, to be Witnesses
of such Executions.' I assured them, that whoever gave them that
Information, abused them; for the Persons certainly suffered Death, and
in the Presence of all the People.
_Canassatego_ then proceeded to give an Answer to what was said to them
the 2d Instant, relating to _Le Tort_'s Letter: 'That they had, in
Council, considered in what Manner the Matter recommended to them ought
to be conducted; and they were of Opinion, that as the _Shawanese_, not
the _Twightwys_ (for they knew so much of it, that the People were of
the _Twightwy_ Nation in whose Bags the Scalps were found) had sent me a
Present of Skins, I should in return, send them a Blanket or a Kettle,
and with it a very sharp Message, that tho' they had done well in
sweeping the Road from Blood, yet that was but a small Part of their
Duty; they ought not to have suffered the _Twightwys_, after their Lye
and the Discovery of the Scalps, to have left them, 'till they had given
a full and true Account how they came by them, whose Scalps they were,
and in what Place, and for what Reason the Men were kill'd; and when
they had been fully satisfied of all these Particulars, then it was
their Duty to have given Information to the Government where the white
People lived, that the Murderers might be complained against, and
punished by the Nation they belonged to: And as the _Shawanese_ had
omitted to perform the Part of Brethren, that I should reprove them for
it, and charge them to make Amends for their Neglect, by using all
possible Expedition to come at the Knowledge of these Things, and to aid
their Brethren the white People in obtaining Justice.'
The Minutes of the preceding Council being read, Mr. _Logan_, in
pursuance of the Board's Direction of Yesterday, reported, on behalf of
himself, and the other Gentlemen to whom it was recommended, that they
had confer'd with Mr. _Kinsey_, and requested him to consult the other
Members of the Assembly concerning the making a Present to the
_Indians_; and that Mr. _Kinsey_ having collected the Sentiments of
several Members of the Assembly in Town, whom he had confer'd with on
that Subject, found them generally of Opinion, that a Present should at
this Time be made; but that they had declined nominating any Sum:
However, that Mr. _Kinsey_ had given it as his own Opinion, that the
Governor and Council might go as far as _three hundred Pounds_.
And accordingly it is refer'd to Mr. _Logan_, Mr. _Preston_, and Mr.
_Lawrence_, to consider of, and prepare a proper List of the Goods
whereof the Present should be composed, to the Value of _three hundred
Pounds_, as aforesaid; advising with the Interpreter as to the Quantity
and Quality.
* * * * *
At a C O U N C I L held at the Proprietor's, the 9th of _July_, P. M.
1742.