have been informed of. Please make my compliments to Colonel Croghan.

I remain, dear sir, your most humble servant,

JOHN BUTLER.

To Mr. Alexander McKee, Deputy Agent of Indian Affairs , Fort Pitt.

P. S. I have much more to say to you than the compass of this paper will admit of; hut must defer it, on account of the precariousness of the times, until I have the pleasure of seeing you; and will expect you will give an invitation to a few of the Chiefs in your neighbourhood to attend the meeting at the time appointed. The bearer has orders to give notice to all the Indians he may see.

J. B.

The above is a true copy, taken by

RICHARD BUTLER.

BROTHER: As you are called on by your nation, and by the head-men of Niagara, we think it very right that you go to hear what they have to say, as it is highly proper that men of sense should be at such meetings; and, as you know the sense of your brethren there last fall, and their charge to you, and all the tribes that were present, to hearken to no speeches that tend to disturb the peace of the country, we hope you will not forget it; and that you will stop your ears to anything contrary from either one party or the other; and as we expect to hear from the great Council-fire at Philadelphia, we hope to see you soon back there again. We also think it very proper that you take the great belt and speech with you, and show it to the Six Nations, and the Northern tribes that will be there, and explain to them fully, that they may know the sentiments of the United Colonies; and that, at this return, we will be glad to know their opinion.

RICHARD BUTLER, Agent and Interpreter.

BROTHER: The Commissioners for the thirteen United Colonies, being assured of your sincerity as a friend to the publick, in general, and your just intention of keeping peace amongst the different tribes of Indians, and with your brethren of these Colonies, they express a desire that you will not be prevailed upon to take any part with either one party or another, that might tend to break the bonds of friendship that now subsists between us and the Six Nations, and the tribes to the northward and westward; and that you will use your endeavours, as a friend to both us and them, to continue in that path of peace and friendship that has been walked in so many years. Your brothers at the great Council-fire at Philadelphia have sent you, by me, this small token of their regard for you, and hope you will wear it, and remember them; and they will expect to see you as soon as convenient again, and renew the ties of friendship between them and you, and the whole of their brethren. There will be messengers sent to the different tribes, when they want to meet them.

RICHARD BUTLER, Agent and Interpreter.

BROTHERS: I take this opportunity to inform you that your old brothers at the great Council-fire at Philadelphia, for the Thirteen United Colonies, have appointed me to reside at Pittsburgh, to take care of the Council-fire that they made for them and you to smoke by, at this place, last fall, where you may always come in safety and peace.

I am, also, to receive your speeches, and deliver you theirs; therefore, anything you want to relate to your old brothers at the great Council-fire, I will send it to them carefully. I am desired to inform you that they expect you will hold fast the great belt of peace and friendship that you both took hold of last fall, and that you will not let it slip out of your hands, but consider us and you as one people; and that you will not hearken to any speech that the Commandants of either Detroit or Niagara may send amongst you by either Englishman, Frenchman, or Indian, as they only mean to deceive you; but that you will sit still and enjoy peace. You may depend that your old brothers will supply you with goods and ammunition plentifully, and on reasonable terms, very soon, as they have your welfare at heart as well as their own; and when you want to hear from the great Council-fire, or to inform them of anything, your messengers shall always be treated with friendship, when they come here on any publick business.

Your old brothers at the great Council-fire expect to hear how the people of your nation, that were not present, like what was said to the heads of the tribes here last fall, and hope their opinion of it is good, and that their hearts are as disposed to peace and friendship as ours.

RICHARD BUTLER.

COMMITTEE OF WEST-AUGUSTA TO PENNSYLVANIA DELEGATES.

[Read April 22, 1776.]

Fort Pitt, or West-Augusta, April 9, 1776.

Present: Major Thomas Smallman, Mr. John Campbell, Mr. John Gibson, and Mr. Joshua Wright.

Major Smallman communicated to the Committee a letter he had received from Colonel Croghan; also, a letter, dated February 29th, from Colonel Butler, at Niagara, Agent for the Indian Affairs in that department, to Alexander McKee, Esq., the Agent at this place; by which it appears that a treaty was intended to be held in behalf of the Ministry the; beginning of next month, at Niagara; and that Colonel Butler and Colonel Caldwell ordered Captain McKee’s attendance and assistance in that behalf:

It is, therefore, Resolved, That Mr. Alexander McKee be required to give his parole, in writing, that he will not transact any business with the Indians in behalf of the Crown or Ministry; that he will not, directly or indirectly, correspond with any of the Crown or Ministerial officers, nor leave the neighbourhood of Fort Pitt, without the consent of the Committee of West-Augusta; and, on his refusal to do so, that he be committed a close prisoner till the General Congress be acquainted, and direct what further is to be done.

Resolved, That a copy of the above Resolve, a copy of Mr. McKee’s Parole, and a copy of Colonel John Butler’s Letter to Captain McKee, be sent to the Delegates of this Colony in Congress.

ALEXANDER MCKEE’S Parole.

WEST-AUGUSTA:

I, Alexander McKee, Deputy Agent for the Indian Affairs for the District of Fort Pitt, do hereby promise and engage that I will not transact any business with the Indians on behalf of the Crown or Ministry; that I will not, directly or indirectly, correspond with any of the Crown or Ministerial officers, nor leave the neighbourhood of Fort Pitt, without the consent of the Committee of West-Augusta.

Given under my hand, at Pittsburgh, this ninth day of April, 1776.

A. MCKEE,
Deputy Agent for Indian Affairs.

A true copy:

THOMAS SMALLMAN, Chairman.

CAPTAIN STEPHENSON TO GENERAL PUTNAM.

Staten-Island, April 8, 1776.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR HONOUR: Yesterday, about ten o’clock in the forenoon, the ship Savage, and the James, a pilot-boat, came up the Sound, under cover of a thick fog, to the watering-place on this Island. Each sent a boat, with eleven men, to take in water; of which I received intelligence, and prepared to attack them. They received information of our approach, and a signal gun was fired for their retreat, which they endeavoured to effect under cover of a brisk and almost constant fire from the Savage; but being closely pursued, were obliged to leave behind them one standard, one musket, one boat, twenty-seven iron-bound barrels, one cable, anchor and buoy, one speaking trumpet, one iron pot, and two watch-coats; ten men were taken prisoners in the boat and in the water, attempting to make their escape, (one of whom is wounded;) one man being shot, fell into the water, and two others fell on board, of which we are confident; many were wounded; but as I cannot inform you with certainty, you will please refer to four deserters, who came ashore last night from the Phenix, for better information.

Two boys belonging to New-York, who went on board