to desert their masters' service, and take up arms against the inhabitants of this Colony, shall be liable to such punishments as shall hereafter be directed by the General Convention. And to the end that all such who have taken this unlawful and wicked step may return in safety to their duty, and escape the punishment due to their crimes, we hereby promise to pardon them, they surrendering themselves to Col. William Woodford, or any other commander of our troops, and not appearing in arms after the publication hereof. And we do further earnestly recommend it to all humane and benevolent persons in this Colony, to explain and make known this our offer of mercy to those unfortunate people.

EDMUND PENDLETON, President.

Virginia, December 14, 1775.

LORD STIRLING TO CAPTAIN JOHN FOLHEMUS.

Elizabethtown, December 14, 1775.

SIR: I must desire that you will forthwith call in all such men as are now absent from your company, and, for the future, to give no furlough or leave of absence to any officer or private, but to hold your company in order for inarching at twenty-four hours' notice.

I am your most humble servant,

STIRLING.

Captain John Polhemus, Brunswick.

LORD STIRLING TO CAPTAIN JOHN CONWAY.

Elizabethtown, December 14, 1775.

SIR: I have received your letter of the 11th inst., and much approve of your getting possession of the beds, blankets, and other barrack utensils, at Amboy. Be pleased, by the first opportunity, to furnish me with an exact account of each article you have received, and to be particular with regard to the blankets—distinguishing how many of them are new, how many partly worn, and how many of them are distributed to the men of your company.

The three men you have confined must remain prisoners until we can form a regimental courtmartial, which will not be till next week. Powell and Rose are engaged as drum and fife majors to the regiment.* The repairs you speak of are absolutely necessary, and I must desire you will get them done, and keep an exact account of the expense.

The men of your company should be kept in constant exercise, especially marching. We are at it here at least five hours every day.

I am, &c.,

STIRLING.

Captain John Conway.

COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

Albany, December 14, 1775.

SIR: Conscious that it is a duty we owe our respectable constituents and ourselves, not to permit any doubts or suspicions to exist, relative to or concerning any transactions of ours, when it is in our power to eradicate them; and reports prevailing, that what Tiahogwando, the Onondaga chief, delivered at the conference held here in the months of August and September last, respecting the Susquehannah lands, now unhappily in controversy between the Colonies of Pennsylvania and Connecticut, was not in consequence either of directions from his particular nation, or the result of the united councils of the Six Nations, we unanimously resolved to enter into an inquiry. Accordingly we sent for Messrs. Deane and Kirkland, who agreed in the following information, viz: That immediately after Tiahogwando had delivered his speech, a murmur ran through the assembly as at a matter not only unexpected but improper; and that some of the sachems, after the rising of the assembly, spoke to them on the subject, expressing their astonishment at such a speech, of which no notice had been given to the Six Nations.

Mr. Fulmer, another interpreter, was then called before us; and as, in the information which he gave, Colonel Francis's name was mentioned, we thought proper to take his deposition and enclose it.

After Fulmer's information, we were of opinion that the sachems should be convened, that we might confer with them on the occasion. Accordingly, Tiahogwando, with another Onondaga sachem, and two from each of the other nations now in town, were convened; at which meeting were also present, Messrs. Deane, Kirkland, Bleeker, and Fulmer, interpreters. The Indians being made acquainted with the business of the meeting, Tiahogwando, the Onondaga sachem, gave the following information: That coming from the meeting preceding that in which the Susquehannah lands were mentioned, Colonel Francis took him by the hand, and informed him that all the other sachems had been to see him, and asked why he did not come and smoke a pipe with him; and invited him to his room in the evening, that he had something to say to him. The sachem replied, it was not the custom of Indians to come alone on such an occasion, and that he would therefore bring one or two along with him. Two accordingly came with him in the evening. After they had drank a little, and began to be intoxicated, Colonel Francis informed them that Governour Penn had directed him to make inquiry about the sale of the Susquehannah lands. Upon which, Tiahogwando then related what he (being a lad) had heard Dinasteego inform his father, being in substance the same as he had delivered in his speech. He observed that he was sorry the white people deceived the Indians, by giving them liquor, to make them say things they ought not; and that what he had said was not in consequence of any directions he had either from his nation or the Six Nations.

Tiahogwando further says, that Colonel Francis promised to give the sachems of the Six Nations something, provided he would deliver it at the close of the business of the next meeting, and not mention his name—meaning Colonel Francis. This chief then observed to us, that the white people have a medicine (meaning liquors) which would make Indians bring out all that is in their minds.

We hope, sir, that in making this inquiry, we have not gone beyond the line of our duty. Our only motives for prosecuting this inquiry, we have taken the liberty to give Congress in the former part of this letter.

We remain, sir, with sentiments of respect and esteem, yours, &c., &c.,

PHILIP SCHUYLER,

VOLKERT P. DOUW,

TIMOTHY EDWARDS.

The Honourable John Hancock, Esq.

GENERAL SCHUYLER TO PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS.

[Read December 22, 1775.]

Albany, December 14, 1775.

SIR: Since my last to you, I have received no accounts from Canada. The Indians delivered us a speech on the 12th, in which they related the substance of all the conferences Colonel Johnson had with them the last summer, concluding with that at Montreal, where he delivered to each of the Canadian tribes a war-belt and a hatchet, who accepted it; after which they were invited to feast on a Bostonian, and drink his blood—an ox being roasted for the purpose, and a pipe of wine given to drink. The war-song was also sung. One of the chiefs of the Six Nations, that attended at that conference, accepted of a very large, black war-belt, with a hatchet depictured in it, but would neither eat nor drink, nor sing the war-song. This famous belt they have delivered up, and we have now a full proof that the Ministerial servants have attempted to engage the savages against us.

* It is agreed between Thomas Rose, on the one part, and William, Earl of Stirling, Colonel of the First New-Jersey Regiment, in the Continental service, on the other part, as follows: That the said Thomas Rose doth inlist himself as a drummer in the said regiment, at the usual Continental pay of seven and one-third of a dollar par month; and also Jour dollars per month, subsistence, or provision in lieu thereof; and in consideration that the said Thomas Rose is well qualified for drum-major of the said regiment, and is able to teach the other drummers the use of their drums and the whole of their duty, the said Colonel does agree to pay to the said Thomas Rose, eight dollars and two-thirds of a dollar more, monthly, to be stopped out of the pay of the other drummers; and this to continue as long as the said Thomas. Rose continues in the service, which will be during his good behaviour, or as long as the regiment continues in the service. It is further agreed, that out of the above mentioned pay, eight dollars per month shall, by the Paymaster, monthly, be lodged in the hands of Colonel John Neilson, of Brunswick, for the use of the said Thomas Rose's wife; one month's pay to be advanced, to the said Thomas Rose, when the Paymaster next comes to Head-quarters.

Witness my hand, this 12th day of December, 1775.

THOMAS ROSE.