therefore desires the Six Nations to turn out one or two from each tribe, to go immediately to Ticonderoga and Caughnawaga, and assist him in settling this matter with the Caughnawagas, that peace may be preserved between the English and Indians, agreeable to the desire and direction of the Twelve United Provinces, whom we now represent.”

Answer of the INDIANS:

“Brothers, Commissioners appointed by the Twelve United Colonies, attend: We take the liberty now to instruct you here to settle this unhappy affair. You are first to pull the hatchet out of the head of the deceased, dig up a pine tree, and then throw the hatchet into the hole; this is to be done with a white belt. By a second belt you must say ‘you cover the dead bodies and the hatchet in the same grave, never to be found again.’ The second belt must be large.

“Brothers, the Commissioners appointed by the Twelve United Provinces, attend: As we had already got through our publick business, and so happily, every thing to our mutual satisfaction, we did not expect to be called together again. But, brothers, an affair has happened which again calls for our publick attention. Accidents will happen; it is not in our power to prevent them. The occasion of this meeting is truly melancholy; yet we thank you that you have called us together, and given us the earliest intelligence of this sorrowful affair. We are certainly satisfied as to our brother Mr. Schuyler’s disposition towards us; we cannot but think it is entirely foreign from his intention that one drop of Indian blood should be spilt in the present quarrel.”

Their intended Speech to the CAUGHNAWAGAS:

“Brothers of CAUGHNAWAGA, attend: We have been upon a treaty with our brethren, the Commissioners appointed by the Twelve United Provinces, who have spoke with us altogether of peace. Just as we had finished our publick business, news of your misfortune reached our ears.

Brothers: We beg you to compose yourselves, and possess your minds in peace. We are assured nothing is designed against you; what has been done was entirely without the orders or even the knowledge of the great Warriours, i. e. the commanders at Ticonderoga or Crown Point. Therefore, brothers, we hope you will not lay it too much to heart, but for the present sit still until the unhappy affair may be settled. In the mean time, brothers, we do by this belt invite you down to our central council house, where we will communicate to you the transactions of this Congress, and confer together on other affairs. And for the greater despatch, brothers, we desire you will rise directly, and send a few only of your people to our central council fire as soon as possible.”

September 3, 1775.

By a request of the Six Nations, this day made to us, we appoint Mr. Dean to go to Onondaga, to recapitulate what has been said to the Indians by the Commissioners at the council fire at Albany, when they shall have their great meeting, in which the whole Six Nations shall be made acquainted with the proceedings of the Commissioners appointed by the Continental Congress.

PENNSYLVANIA COMMITTEE OF SAFETY.

Tuesday, August 1, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, Owen Biddle, Robert White, Thomas Wharton, Richard Reiley, Benjamin Bartholomew, Samuel Morris, Jun., Robert Morris, Andrew Allen, John Cadwallader:

The Committee appointed yesterday to borrow a sum of Money from the Wardens of the Port, report, that Mr. Peter Reeve, Treasurer to the Wardens, will lend this Committee the sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Pounds.

Resolved, That the Members present sign a Promissory Note, payable on demand to the said Peter Reeve, for the said sum of Three Thousand Five Hundred Pounds borrowed of him; which Note was signed accordingly.

Resolved, That the Colonels of the different Battalions in this City be requested to order a Night Guard over the Powder in the new Jail, and a guard on Sundays at the same place.

Resolved, That Captain Nicholas Biddle be appointed to the command of the Boat called the Franklin, now building by Emanuel Eyres; and that Captain John Hamilton be appointed to the command of the Boat called the Congress, now building by Emanuel Eyres; and that Captain Dougherty, now commander of the Boat Experiment, be removed to the Boat called the Washington, now building by Mr. John Wharton; and that Allen Moore, Lieutenant of the Boat Experiment, be appointed commander of the said Boat.

Wednesday, August 2, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Benjamin Franklin, Owen Biddle, Benjamin Bartholomew, Francis Johnson, Richard Reiley, Samuel Morris, Jun., Thos. Wharton, Jun., Robert Morris, Daniel Roberdeau, John Cadwallader, Robert White, George Gray:

Mr. Robert Morris reports that he has received Three Thousand Five Hundred Pounds from Mr. Peter Reeve, Treasurer of the Wardens of the Fort, for which he has given a receipt to the Board.

Mr. George Taylor attended this Board, and offers to make and deliver Cannon Ball, at the rate of twenty Pounds per ton.

Mr. Biddle is desired to acquaint Mr. Taylor that this Board will inform themselves of the price that Ball may be had at, but think the price he mentions is too high.

Colonel Roberdeau will speak to Mr. David Potts, respecting the price that Cannon Ball may be made and delivered at.

Thursday, August 3, 1775.

At a meeting of the Committee of Safety: Present—

Robert Morris, President of the Day; Daniel Roberdeau, Anthony Wayne, Francis Johnson, John Cadwallader, Robert White, Richard Reiley, Benjamin Bartholomew, George Gray, Andrew Allen, Thomas Wharton, Jun., Owen Biddle, Samuel Morris, Jun.:

Resolved, That Colonel Roberdeau and Mr. Owen Biddle purchase twenty-eight tons of Cannon Ball, of the following sizes: thirty-two pounders, twenty-four pounders, eighteen pounders.

On motion of Col. Wayne, that any Member who may have any thing to offer to this Board should address the Chair; which motion was agreed to, and ordered to be minuted.

Major Bayard and Major Johnson delivered in a Memorial from a number of the Committee of the City, Liberties, and County of Philadelphia, and the body of Officers of the several Battalions in the said City, Liberties, and County; and, on debate, it is agreed, that the objects recommended in said Memorial do come properly under the notice of this Board, and will be taken into consideration.

Upon motion, Resolved, That Doctor Franklin, Andrew Allen, Colonel Cadwallader, Colonel Wayne, Colonel Ross, Colonel Roberdeau, and Major Johnson, be a Committee to prepare a draught of Rules and Regulations for the good government of the Associators of this Province; and the said Committee are desired to form a draught of a recommendation from this Board to such persons as have not associated, and who come within the description of the Resolves of the Congress of the eighteenth of July, to join the Associators without further loss of time.

Upon application of Mr. Robert Erwin for six pounds of Gunpowder, for the use of the Hospital and Jail, it is agreed that he should have an order on Robert Towers for the same; which order was accordingly drawn and delivered.

Mr. Owen Biddle produced two Letters from Bucks County, one from three of the Assessors and one Commissioner of said County, informing this Board that at a meeting of Commissioners and Assessors, there appeared a majority for not carrying the Resolution of Assembly, for providing three hundred stand of Arms, into execution. A