"Brothers, we would not conceal any tiling from you; it would not be right to use deceit, neither do we mean to do it; the minds of our counsellors are very much grieved, and aggrieved, at that part of the disposition of those whom we may call our warriors, as there are some among us of different minds, as there are among you.

"Brothers, our counsellors remembering the covenant we, last Summer, made with our brethren, the Twelve Colonies, have, all along, strongly urged our warriors to peace, and have checked them when a contrary disposition appeared. Our minds are very much grieved to find any of our warriors of a different sentiment. We have, hitherto, been able to restrain them, and hope still to be able to do it, for matters are not now carried to extremity; but, if they are, our warriors will not be restrained, because they will think themselves deceived if this military force comes into the country.

"We have declared to you, brothers, that we would not deceive, and that we mean to declare our minds to you openly and freely. We, the Sachems, have all along inculcated to the warriors sentiments of peace, and they have hitherto been obedient to us, though there have been frequent rumours that they should be disturbed, yet we have, hitherto, been able to calm their minds. But now, brothers, so large a party coming alarms the minds of our warriors.

"They are determined, brothers, to go and be present at your interview with St. John, and determined to see and hear every thing that should be there transacted; and if it shall then appear, that this party shall push matters to extremes, we then cannot be accountable for any thing that may happen. But, as for us, brothers, the counsellors are fully determined ever to persevere in the path of peace.

"Brothers, attend! Though I have finished what I had purposed so say, yet I will add one thing more. When the news of your approach arrived at our town, it caused great confusion; some were ready to take to their arms, observing, that those reports respecting the unfriendly disposition of the Colonies were now verified. I begged of them, brothers, to possess their minds in peace for a few days. I told them, that I, myself, would go to Ahany and inquire into the truth of the matter. I was so conscious of my own innocency, that no hostile appearance could deter me however formidable. I therefore desired them to sit still, until my return home, which might be in two days if I went to Albany. This, brothers, is the present situation of our people; they are wailing to see what news I bring.

"Brothers, when I made this request to the warriors, that they should sit still till my return, they told me that they would, which they are now in expectation of, and will do nothing until I get back. But, brothers, after my return, I will repeat to them the speech you will now make to me, and if any of our people should still persist to be present at your interview with Sir John, we hope, brethren, you will not think hard of us as counsellors, as it is not in our power to rule them as we please. If they should go, and if any thing evil should happen, we beg to know, brothers, what treatment we may expect who remain at home in peace.

"Brothers, this is all we have to say; this is the business which has brought us down, and we now expect an answer, to carry home to our people."

To which I delivered the following Answer, which it was easy to be perceived, had the desired effect:

"Brothers of the Mohawk Nation: We the Commissioners, appointed by the Congress, and by your brothers of Albany and Schenectady, have paid great attention to the speech you have delivered to us; we now desire you to open your ears, and attentively listen to what we have to say in answer.

"Brothers, it pleased us to hear you declare, that you would speak your minds freely; we assure you that we shall do the same, and hide nothing from you of what is in our thoughts.

"Brothers, we were in hopes that the message which we sent you by Mr. Bleecker would have eased your minds, and have convinced you, that we had no hostile intentions against you or any other Indians, for if we had, we would not have sent you that massage, neither would we have supplied you with powder, as we did last Summer, and again the other day.

"Brothers, we are extremely sorry that you have not complied with our request, to send the speech which we sent you by Mr. Bleecker to the Six Nations, in the manner which we required.

"Brothers, you told us that five or six men would have been sufficient to have gone to Johnstown, and to have inquired what was transacting there, and that these people would have been in no danger, as it would have been a shame to have interrupted them. We acknowledge, brothers, that it would have been a shame if we had sent them, and they had been interrupted; but we have full proofs that many people in Johnstown, and the neighbourhood thereof, have, for a considerable time past, made preparations to carry into execution the wicked designs of the King's evil counsellors.

"Brothers, it is very true, that last Summer the United Colonies promised that the path to the Indian country should be kept open. They again repeat that promise; and although it is by the special order of the Congress, that this body of troops are now marching up, yet it is not to shut the path, but to keep it open, and to prevent the people in and about Johnstown from cutting off the communication between us and our brethren of the Six Nations, and our other brethren living upon the river.

"Brothers, although we have before observed, that the people living in and about Johnstown are making hostile preparations against us, yet we will not shed a drop of their blood, unless they refuse to come to an agreement, by which, we may be safe, or unless they oppose us with arms. We do not mean that any of our warriors should set their foot on any of the lands you possess, or that of the Six Nations, unless our enemies should take shelter there, for those we are resolved to follow wherever they go. We again repeat, that we have no quarrel with you, and we do expect that you will not interfere in this family contest, but stand by as indifferent spectators, agreeable to the engagement of the Six Nations made to us last Summer at their own request.

"Brothers, we assured you last Summer, that, as we had no quarrel with any Indians, we would not touch a hair of their heads; yet when our warriors were at St. John's they were attacked by Indians; two of your tribe, and some others, were killed. You have never blamed us for it, because you well know that as our lives are dear to us, we had a right to kill any man who attempts to kill us; you ought, therefore, not to be surprised, if we take every precaution to prevent being destroyed by the friends of the King's evil counsellors.

"Brothers, in a little time we may be called upon to go and fight against our enemies to the Eastward, who are employed by the King's evil counsellors, and can you think it prudent that we should leave a set of people who are our enemies, in any part of the country, in such a situation as to be able to destroy our wives and children, and burn our houses in our absence? Would you leave your wives and children in such a situation? The wisdom by which you have conducted your affairs, convinces us that you would not; and yet so cautious are we that no blood may be shed, that we shall send a letter to Sir John, inviting him to meet us on the road, between this place and his house, which if he does, we make no doubt but every thing will be settled in an amicable manner. And, that he may be under no apprehensions, we do now assure you, that if we do not come to an agreement, he will be permitted safely to return to his own house.

"Brothers, we thank you that you have concealed nothing from us; and we assure you that we scorn deceit as much as you do, and, therefore, we shall now speak our minds freely on what you have said respecting the conduct which your warriors mean to hold. We have no objection, nay, we wish that you and they should be present to hear what we shall propose to Sir John, and the people in and about Johnstown, who are our enemies. But we beg of you to tell your warriors, that although we have no quarrel with them, yet, if we should be under the disagreeable necessity of fighting with our enemies, and your warriors should join them and fight against us, that we will do as we did at St. John's, and repel force by force.

"Brothers, you have asked us if your warriors should go, and if any thing evil should happen, what treatment you may expect who remain at home in peace.