Die Mercurii, 9 ho. A. M., October 11, 1775.

The Congress met pursuant to adjournment. Present:

Nathaniel Woodhull, Esq., President.

The Petition of Abner Briggs to the Committee of the City, praying leave to ship one hundred and eighty barrels Flour to Falmouth, for the use of the people of Nantucket, referred to this Congress by the Committee of the City of New-York, and also an Order of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts-Bay, of the 28th of September last, signed by James Warren, Speaker; whereby it is resolved that the Committee of Correspondence for the Town of Falmouth, in the County of Barnstable, be and were thereby empowered and directed, by written permit under their hands, to grant license to the said inhabitants to purchase so much Provision and other necessary supplies as is sufficient for their internal consumption and for those voyages which they may prosecute, consistent with the Resolves of Congress and of that Court, and no more; and that such permits shall specify the quantities such person has liberty to purchase:

Thereupon, Ordered, That Abner Briggs be allowed to lade one hundred and eighty barrels of Flour for Falmouth, in the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay, upon condition that the said Abner Briggs do, within three months, return to the Secretary of this Congress a certificate from the Chairman of the Committee of said Town of Falmouth, that the said Flour was reported to and under the direction of the said Committee, the danger of the seas and seizures excepted; and if the said Abner Briggs does not comply with the condition aforesaid, that then he shall be deemed guilty of an infringement of the Resolution of this Congress, and an enemy to this Country.

Mr. Thomas Smith and Henry Williams dissenting.

A Letter from Volkert P. Douw, Esquire, of Albany, dated the 4th instant, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Albany, October 4, 1775.

“SIR: Enclosed you have a copy of the journal and proceedings of the four Indians sent by the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, appointed by the Twelve United Colonies, to the Caughnawagas, to acquaint them of the treaty that had been held here with their brethren of the Six Nations and the Commissioners.

“I am, Sir, your most humble servant,

“VOLKERT P. DOUW.

“To Peter V. B. Livingston, Esq., President of the Provincial Congress..”

The Journal of the proceedings of the Indians, therein mentioned, was read and filed, and is in the words following, to wit:

“Albany, Saturday, September 30, 1775.

“At a meeting with the four warriours of the Six Nations who were sent, by the Commissioners (appointed by the Twelve United Colonies) of Indian Affairs, after the treaty held with the Six Nations at Albany, to the Caughnawagas:

“They were asked by Volkert P. Douw, Esq., one of the Commissioners, what news they brought.

“Answered by Saristtago, (alias Peter, ) by George Fulmer, the interpreter, that they were sent by the Six Nations, at the request of the Twelve United Colonies, to the Caughnawagas, to inform them what had been done here; which we undertook, and have performed. We came to the Isle-aux-Noix, and delivered the letter to General Schuyler which we had from the Commissioners, and the belts of wampum we took along, and others that we prepared by the way. General Schuyler fitted us out with provisions and money, to go to Caughnawaga. We were brought with a batteau ten miles, with three Canadians as guides, as we were unacquainted with the road; notwithstanding, we went at least six miles out of our road, where we lay. Next morning we came on the road that leads from St. John’s to La Prairie; from thence we went on till we came to a house, and the people there put us on another road; they feared, if we went on that road, we should be taken prisoners. From thence the people on the road used us well; yet we lay in the woods, out of choice. Next morning we proceeded; about nine o’clock we came to the River St. Lawrence, eight or ten miles below Caughnawaga, where we set up a white flag, which we had from General Schuyler, as a token. From thence we proceeded about a mile or two, where we met a hundred warriours, of different nations, who came from Caughnawaga, at the request of Guy Johnson, (as they said,) and were going to St. John’s to join the Regulars, to fight against the Continental Army. As soon as they saw our flag, they immediately came to us; on which we desired them to hearken to what we had to say to them from the Commissioners of the Twelve United Colonies and Six Nations; on delivering which, there was a great dispute among the warriours: some were for proceeding, others for returning; the majority were for returning to the castle. On which, two runners were despatched, to acquaint the chiefs of the castle that four of the Six Nations were come to speak to them. When we arrived within two miles of the castle, we were met by some on horseback, to know if it was true that we were coming; and, on seeing us, immediately returned to the castle (as we suppose) to acquaint the chiefs that it was true. When we arrived at the castle, one of the principal chiefs came to us, took the white flag from us, and brought it in the council-house, and introduced us at the same time. When we arrived in the council-house, all the chiefs and warriours of the seven nations were assembled, and desired to know our messages. As they were very inquisitive to know what had been transacted at Albany by the Six Nations and the Commissioners of the Twelve United Colonies, we then desired, as we were fatigued, that they would indulge us three or four hours to rest, and then they might call us. About four hours thereafter we went to the council-house, when we informed them of all that we were charged with from the Six Nations and Commissioners of the Twelve United Colonies; on which they heartily thanked us for the information, as they were now convinced that Guy Johnson had told them nothing but lies. We then delivered General Schuyler’s request to them, that two of their chiefs and two of their warriours would come to him and confer further on the matter, as he desired that they would stand on one side, that no Indian blood might be spilt. After which, a party of Guy Johnson’s Indians, with Col. Claus, came with strings of black wampum, to invite us to come to him in Montreal, as he had understood that we were come from the Six Nations. On which, we answered, we had no order to go to Guy Johnson, but that we were sent to Caughnawaga, and did not intend to go any farther; which made a great confusion in the castle among the Indians; and we were informed by the Caughnawaga Indians, that Colonel Johnson was about making up a company to take us prisoners, and advised us not to lie in the castle that night, but that we should go about three or four miles out of the place, to a plantation there, and some of the Caughnawagas went with us, where we lodged, and were well used. The next morning the Caughnawaga Indians returned with us to the castle, where we received an answer to our speech which we had delivered in behalf of the Six Nations: That they should be quiet till St. John’s was taken, and then they should come to Onondaga, to speak with them; and, as General Schuyler was desirous to speak with them, they would now go with us to him, to hear what he had to say to them. They then again conducted us three or four miles out of the castle, and said that early next morning they would make up seven of the chiefs and warriours to go with us to the Isle-aux-Noix, to General Schuyler. In the morning they came, and went with us to the Isle-aux-Noix. When we came to the island, General Schuyler was gone from thence; on which we and the Caughnawagas and Fulmer, our interpreter, went by water toward St. John’s, where the Army lay, under the command of General Montgomery. General Montgomery prayed the Caughnawagas that they would keep their people on one side, as he would be very sorry to shed any of the blood of his brethren. On which the Caughnawagas thanked General Montgomery for his speech, and gave him a belt of wampum, and assured him that he might depend that not one of the seven nations of Canada Indians should in the least molest them. On which General Montgomery thanked them, and made them a present for the seven nations of Canada Indians, besides a gratuity to the seven ambassadors.”