should say. For which reason, you had kindled up a council fire at this place, that we might always converse together, and know the truth of things.

“Brothers: The Six Nations say, let it be so; it shall be as you desire. They thank you for this advice, and desire you would use the same precautions; that you would shut your ears to flying reports, but keep your eye upon the chief council, such as you see now convened. The Six Nations desire you would always inform them fully of what respects them. We have for this purpose opened our ears, and purified our minds, that we may always hear and receive what you have to say with good and clear minds. And whenever we receive any important intelligence, we shall always bring it to this council fire.

“Brothers: You delivered us this pipe. On one side the tree of peace, on the other a council fire; we Indians sitting on one side of the fire, and the representatives of the Twelve United Colonies upon the other. You have desired that this pipe may be left at our central council house, and that the tree of peace may be planted, and that the branches may be so high as to be visible to our allies.

“Brothers: We thank you, and shall take care to deposite this where you desire; and when we meet to deliberate upon business, shall always use this our council pipe.

“Brothers, attend: In the course of your speech you observed that we of the Six Nations were a wise people, and saw a great way before us; and you asked us, if you upon this island were conquered, what would become of the Indians. You say you are uncertain of holding your present possessions, and that you do not know who may enjoy the product of your labour. Now, therefore, brothers, attend; you, particularly, our brothers of Albany; we address ourselves particularly to you. You, our brothers of Albany, have taken two pieces of land from us, without any reward, not so much as a single pipe. We therefore desire you will restore them, and put us into peaceable possession again. If you refuse to do this, we shall look upon the prospect to be bad; for if you conquer you will take us by the arm and pull us all off.

“Now, therefore, as the Twelve United Colonies have renewed their covenant of peace, we beg that there may be no obstruction upon your parts, but that you would restore our land to us, for which, as we said before, you never paid us even a single pipe.

“Brothers: You have now finished your business, and we have made short replies. You have kindled up a council fire of peace, and have planted a tree of peace according to ancient custom. We find that you have omitted one thing, which is this: According to our ancient custom, whenever a council fire was kindled up, and a tree of peace was planted, there was some person appointed to watch it. Now, as there is no person appointed to watch this tree, we of the Six Nations take upon us to appoint one. Let it be the descendant of our ancient friend Queder. He has to consider whether he will take the charge of it. He that watches this council fire is to be provided with a wing, that he may brush off all insects that come near it, and keep it clean. That is the custom at our central council house; we have one appointed for that purpose.

“Brothers: As you have this day renewed the ancient covenant of friendship, and have again brightened the ancient chain, renew likewise another ancient custom respecting the regulation of trade. Let us have a trade at this place, and likewise at Schenectady, as it was in former times, when we had hold of the old covenant. For then, brothers, if our people came down with only a few musquash skins, they went home with glad hearts.

“Brothers: Let it be so again; let the Twelve United Colonies take this into consideration.”—(A belt of ten rows of wampum.)

Tiahogwando, an Onondaga Sachem, then spake:

“Brothers: This is all the Six Nations have to say at present; they would just mention one thing more before they break up. The Six Nations look upon this as a very good time to speak their minds, as here are the representatives of the Twelve Colonies.

“The dispute between the people of New-England and Penn seems to us likely to become a serious affair, and therefore the Six Nations take upon themselves to speak their minds freely, as they address the inhabitants of the whole Continent. Many years ago, at a council held in Pennsylvania, when Annassateego, that has been before mentioned, was present, Penn desired the Six Nations would sell him that piece of land known by the name of Scanandanani or Susquehannah. The Indians of the Six Nations refused to sell it, saying, the great God would not permit them. Therefore they made him a present of that land known by the name of Scanandanani. Penn received it, and made them valuable presents. After this, Colonel Lydius, a gentleman employed by the people of Boston, treated with some of the Indians, to get that land from them, but he never kindled up a council fire upon the occasion. He spoke to them whenever he met them, never with more than ten. From those he pretended to make a purchase of that tract. Governour Penn also, at the great treaty at Fort Stanwix, in the year 1768, desired that this land might be his, and distributed among the Six Nations, Shawanese, and Caughnawagas, ten thousand dollars, for which they gave him a writing. This is an affair with which all the Six Nations are acquainted, and any one would lie who said they knew nothing about it.

“We have taken an opportunity to speak of this matter now, as the minds of the whole Continent are now here.”

Friday, September 1, 1775.

At a treaty held this day with the Indians of the Six Nations, at the City of Albany, present: Colonel Francis, Colonel Wolcott, Mr. Douw, Commissioners.

“Brothers of the SIX NATIONS:

“We yesterday heard with pleasure your answer to the speech of the Twelve United Colonies, and we return thanks to the great Governour of the Universe, that he has inclined your hearts to approve and accept of the brotherly love offered to you by them. It makes us happy to hear so wise and brave a people as our brothers of the Six Nations publickly declare their unalterable resolution to maintain and support peace and friendship with the Twelve United Colonies. This, brothers, you have said, and we most sincerely believe you.

“Brothers: We requested you, Indians of the Six Nations, not to interfere in our quarrel. We are not in the least doubtful of success, as our cause is good and just. We will live or die like men. We can raise an army of three hundred thousand fighting men, who are brave, and determined not to part with their civil and religious privileges. Therefore, we now repeat to you, brothers of the Six Nations, take care of the strong friendship you have now made with the Twelve United Colonies. Let that be your care, for peace we wish to establish.

“Brothers: You yesterday told us, that as the roads in your country were opened for you and your brethren of the Twelve United Colonies to pass and repass in safety, you begged we would not soon defile them with blood.

“Brothers: Be assured we have no intention at present to spill blood in your country; and it never can happen, unless those wicked men, who have come so far from home to disturb the peace of the Twelve United Colonies, appear there. For, as we are men determined to be free or die, we must pursue them until we drive them off this island, or until they confirm our ancient privileges. Therefore, brothers, rest assured, that whatever may happen between us and our enemies, we will never injure or disturb the peace of the Six Nations, but preserve invariably, even unto death, the friendship that is established.

“Brothers: You desired yesterday that some of your friends of our blood should remain unmolested, particularly the Missionary at Fort Hunter, who, you say, does not concern himself with the affairs of this world, but is earnestly engaged in instructing you in the reverence due to the Great God who governs the universe. Brothers, such a man we love, and we are also desirous of his remaining quiet and happy with you. We are also desirous that all the other Missionaries may continue safely among you, and instruct you in the gospel, which will be the means of your happiness in this world and in the world to come.

“Brothers: We always looked upon you, our brothers of the Six Nations, to be a wise and capable people in conducting business of every kind. We were, therefore, a little surprised to hear you say, that no one was appointed