At a meeting of the Commissioners for transacting Indian affairs for the Northern Department, held at the City of Albany on Friday, August 25, 1775, present: General Schuyler, Colonel Wolcott, Colonel Francis, and Mr. Douw.

The following Message was sent to the Committee of the City of Albany:

Albany, August 25, 1775.

GENTLEMEN: The Commissioners of Indian Affairs are to open the treaty with the Six Nations this morning, about eleven o’clock, at the Dutch Church. They request the favour of your attendance, and that of the principal gentlemen of the Town, and would wish, previous to the meeting, to be honoured with your company at Cartwright’s.

To Abraham Yates, Jun., Esq., Chairman of the Committee of Albany.

The Chairman and Committee attended, agreeable to invitation.

Albany Committee Chamber, August 25, 1775.

The Committee, about half an hour after ten, received a note from the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, which is in the words following, to wit:

“The Commissioners of Indian Affairs are to open the treaty with the Six Nations this morning, about eleven o’clock, at the Dutch Church. They request the favour of your attendance, and that of the principal gentlemen of the Town, and would wish, previous to the meeting, to be honoured with your company at Cartwrights. By order of the Commissioners.

“TENCH TILGHMAN.”

The Committee accordingly immediately repaired to Cartwright’s, when the Commissioners informed them that the Indians said they came down here in consequence of an invitation from this Committee, and that they chose to speak with the Committee before they talked with the Commissioners. The Committee told the Commissioners that this was a surprise to them, as they had not received the least intimation of such their design, before that juncture, either from the Indians or any other person or persons whatsoever; however, not to retard the publick business, and after consultation with the Commissioners, (who desired the Committee to gratify the Indians and the representatives of Queder,) this Committee resolved immediately to hear what the Indians had to say; and that it might be the more publick, the Committee gave them notice that they would be ready instantly, and would meet them in Youker’s Street, back of the Dutch Church; appointed a Committee to inform the Commissioners of this, requesting their presence at the meeting, and sent the bell-man round the city, inviting the inhabitants that thought proper to attend; and also a Committee, viz: Walter Livingston, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, and Samuel Stringer, to inquire of the Commissioners whether, in case the Indians’ talk with the Committee was of such a nature as to require an answer, they would supply them with proper presents for the Indians. The Committee reported that the Commissioners answered, that they must first see how the Indians behaved in their conference and speeches. And then the following speech or answer to the invitation was delivered by the Indian, in the. presence of the Commissioners and many of the inhabitants of the City.

Senghnagenrat, one of the Oneida chiefs, in behalf of the Six Nations, speaker:

“Brothers of ALBANY: We beg you will acquaint us when your body is complete.

“Brothers of ALBANY: The day is now come that we have arrived in consequence of your invitation. When you saw four of the Oneida Nation, you said you was glad to see them at your council chamber. We are now here in consequence thereof. You told us you would be glad to see us again, that you rejoiced to see them, and that you would open the ashes and rekindle the old council fire at Albany. We are glad to see that some sparks of that old council fire yet remain. We rejoice even to excess to find it so.

“Brothers, attend: I have one addition to make to what passed between four of the Oneida Nation and you, when last at your council chamber. When you found, from our conference with your brothers at the German Flats, that our sentiments of publick affairs so much coincided with yours, you further told us that all the Governments of America, on the sea-coasts, were anxious to know whether we were disposed to peace; and that you, the Twelve United Colonies, were resolved to support your civil constitution and liberties, and you rejoiced to find that we all so firmly resolved to maintain peace.

“Brothers of ALBANY: You further observed, in the intercourse you had with four of the Oneida Nation, that you greatly rejoiced at the conference you had at the German Flats. You further said that you were surprised about a letter Guy Johnson had received from the chief warriour, General Gage, about removing the ministers from among us; that you rejoiced that the Indians were instructed in the Christian religion, and that the ministers that were among us might continue.

“Brothers of ALBANY, attend: We have something further yet to relate of your speech. You desired, at the intercourse you had with the four messengers, that we should acquaint the Six Nations with your speech, and that thereafter three or four of each nation should come down. You further said that you would have been glad to have attended at the council fire at Guy Johnson’s, to hear what he should say to the Indians, and see if his sentiments and yours should coincide; but you then soon heard that he had removed from there to Fort Stanwix, from there to Oswego, that you despaired of hearing any thing from him, and therefore desired us that we would let you know what was done at that fire.

“Brothers, attend: You made another proposal at the intercourse you had with four of our nation, which was this: that you had heard that there was to be a council of the whole of our nation at the German Flats. You desired our people that they would let you know what passed between us and them. Our Delegates, in our names, then told you that it would be more agreeable that two or more of your members should attend, and hear themselves what passed there. This, brethren, is the substance of what passed between you and the four of the Oneida Nation.

“Brothers of ALBANY, attend: We are now, upon this day, going through with what passed between some of your members and us, when the conference ended at the German Flats. You said, brothers, let us both endeavour to keep peace, that we may continue to enjoy its blessings. We desire not that you should trouble yourselves in the least with these disputes between us and those over the great waters; only exert yourselves in maintaining the covenant that was made between your and our forefathers at this place of our council fire. Your Delegates told us at the German Flats, that although you should be drove back from the sea-coasts by your enemies, yet you would not ask our aid.

“Brothers of ALBANY, further attend: Two things more you delivered at the German Flats; the first was this: that we, the Oneida Nation, should give a kind ear to your speech. You there produced two ancient belts of wampum, one of twenty rows, which was the old covenant between the whole. Oneida Nation and Queder Gorah; another that was given by the Six Nations, by the Indian called Kayinguaraghtoh, of the Seneca Nation. You also said that these belts should again be produced, for the inspection of the whole Six Nations, at the intended council fire to be rekindled at Albany.

“Brothers of ALBANY: We have now finished the principal subjects that passed between you and us; the Oneida Nation, and we, all of us, the Six Nations, are here now present to hear what has passed, and to prevent any false reports that may be propagated by news-carriers.

“Brothers of ALBANY, now attend: You, also, the Commissioners who are here present, lend your ears, and hear our voices:

“; You, our brothers of Albany, have desired the sentiments of the Six Nations. We, the Six Nations, and our allies, which extend to Detroit, Ohio, and Caughnawaga, upon our first hearing the had news that circulated along the eastern shore of this island, assembled and resolved upon a union amongst us Indians, and to maintain peace; and we rejoice that nothing more has been asked of us. There is nothing different in our minds than what we have now told. We shan’t take notice of any hostile propositions that may be made to us, for we bear an equal proportion of love to you, and the others over the great waters, in the