"in the mean Time, I muft defire you to go among the Six Nations, to find out the Reason of this Proceeding, and to tell them, that if any Thing like it happen again, I will make them ffmart: You may nevertheless affure my Chil"dren of the Six Nations, that I love and efteem "them equally with the Cabnuagas, or Shawenda"dies t, being of the fame Blood. And to con"vince them of my Love, I now send back to "them one of their People that was taken at Crown"Point, without eating his Flesh. And now Cah

nuagas, my Children, I would not have you spill "any more Blood from Albany upwards, for I begin "to pity their Weaknefs; but turn your Arms "towards New-England, against your most invete"rate Enemies; there is the Place for you to gain "Honour now."

The Cabnuagas gave the following Answer to the Governor of Canada: Father, You are in the wrong to defire us to go among the Six Nations for Intelligence, or with Menaces; for fuch will only ftir them up, and bring them and all their Allies (who are very numerous) upon you, to destroy you at once. We know they are not to be bullied by your Words or ours ; wherefore, Father, we must leave you to go through this Work by yourself.

After having, as above, related what had paffed between them and the Governor of Canada, they fent the following Meffage from themselves.

Brethren of the Six Nations, "We hear the Go66 vernor of New-York has invited you to meet “him; we intreat you not to mind any Thing he " Thalk

The Governor of Canada calls the Six Nations, fand all the Indian Nations depending on him) Children, as the Governor of New-York calls them Brethren.

+ Another Settlement of Deferters from the Six Nations, and dwelling near Montreal

fhall fay, in order to fet you against us; for if "you do, you, as well as we, muft all die. Where"fore, Brethren, we conjure you, by all the Ties ❝of Friendship fubfifting between us, to inform us " of any Defign that is plotting againft us and "that when any fuch Thing fhall be discovered, you will fend an Exprefs to Cadarackui*, where 66 our Fire always burns.

"Brethren, We fhall be glad to see you next Spring at Cahnuaga, to hold a Council toge"ther, where you shall be as fafe and welcome as

6 ever.

"Brethren, The Governor our Father being in"formed, that your Governor is raifing Men to come against Canada, defires us to tell you that he has one Thoufand eight Hundred Men at Crown "Point, ready to give them Battle; in which "Number, the Men of eight Caftles of the Uta66. wawas are included.

Brethren, Be not angry at our destroying Saraghtoga laft Fall: Col. Schuyler dar'd us to it, by faying he wished to fee a French Army there: "We gratified him in his Wifh."

A Cabnuaga Indian was fent along with the Prifoner that was reftored; but when he came near the Settlements of the Six Nations, his Heart fail'd him, and he fent the Prifoner forward by himself with the Meffage.

The Readinefs with which the Six Nations communicated this Meffage, and the Slight they in all Appearance put upon it, is fome Proof of their Sincerity in the Promifes they made to his Excellency neither from any Thing which has happened can it be fhewn, that they were not fincere. On the contrary, it appears by Mr. Johnson's Letter to his Excel

* A French Fort oppofite to Ofwego, and the Eaft End of Cada pada Like, or Lake Frontenac.

Excellency of the aft of October, that feveral Parties are now out against the French; and that Mr. Johnson having received Orders from Col. Roberts, to fend as many Indians as poffible to join the Army, all the Mohawks, even their oldeft Men, were fitted out and ready; and having fent to the upper Castles at the fame Time, they appeared fo hearty, that there would not have remained above three old Men in any of the next Castles: And that Col. Roberts afterwards contradicting thefe Orders, they had appeared very uneafy on their being ftopt. It was not expected that they would enter into the War without us, or by them felves, neither are they a People of fo little Thought, as to give any Reafon to expect it.

from them.

When the Companies raised in Pensylvania arrived at Albany, his Excellency was informed by their Captains, that Mr. Thomas, Governor of that Province, had fent Conrad Weifer their publick Interpreter, among the Safquehannah Indians; and that they expected his Arrival at this Place in a little Time, with at least three hundred Indians. The Treaties with the Indians, which Mr. Thomas has published, gave great Hopes of the Succefs that the Interpreter would have, and thereby increased the Disappointment, when Mr. Weifer arrived a few Days before his Excellency left Albany, and did not bring one Indian with him.

His Excellency Governor Clinton had, perhaps, more Difficulties to ftruggle with on this Occafion, than any Governor of New-York had at any Time: The Six Nations had, on several Occasions, given Grounds of Miftruft; the Governor of Canada was attempting all the Means in his Power to divert their Affections from us; the People of the County of Albany had, for fome Time past, entertained a Diffatisfaction in the Conduct of the Commif

Commiffioners for Indian Affairs; the Commiffioners themselves were divided in their Sentiments, and feveral of them refused to attend their Meetings; and they confeffed to his Excellency, that they had loft all Influence on the Indians. Mr. Gooch having declined the Command of the Forces at Albany, his Excellency was forced likewife to undertake a new and great Care, which he in no Manner expected when he left the City of New-York, and which, from many Incidents, was attended with many Difficulties. If thefe Things be duly confidered, and the Dangers his Perfon was in from the Infection of two different Diseases, which at that Time raged in the City of Albany, of which great Numbers died during his Refidence there, of near three Months; none can doubt of his hearty Zeal for the Succefs of an Affair, in which the Safety and Prosperity of all the Colonies in North America were immediately concerned.

But as every one may not be fufficiently apprized of what Confequence the Six Nations being hearty, is to the Intereft of Great-Britain, it may be proper to obferve, That though a Number of Indians to march with the Army, which was intended to attack Canada, would be of great Ufe in difcovering and defeating the Ambushes of the Enemy's Indians, while they were every Day to be guarded against by the Forces which were to march by Land; and would, by their Incurfions into the Enemy's Country, terribly harrass them, and keep them from joining their Forces into any great Body to oppose the Defign; these are not the most confiderable Advantages which might be gained from the Affection of the Six Nations at this Time, or any Time of War ; for if the inland Extent of the Colonies from Nova Scotia to Georgia be confidered, and at the fame Time the numerous Indian Nations on the Continent of America, who may,. by

the

the Artifices of the French, be induced to make Incurfions every where; and the cruel Methods by which the Indians make Incurfions in fmall Par ties, from the vaft Force which every where covers the Continent, and which in many Places is impenetrable; it muft evidently appear, that though the English Colonies be of much fuperior Force in Numbers of Men, yet their Number would not be fufficient to protect their Frontiers from the Incurfions of the Indians in every Place: And that, while their Forces muft in this Cafe be divided and fcattered all over their Frontiers, it may be in the Power of the French in Canada, to invade with Success any Part of the English Colonies. On the other Hand, if a proper Attempt were to be made by the Northern Colonies alone, without the Affiftance of their Mother Country, but with the Affiftance of the Indians, it would in all Appearance be fufficient to reduce Canada; for if the Indian Nations can be perfuaded to join heartily, (as from what is above related it seems probable they may) it will be impoffible for the Inhabitants of Canada to defend themselves from the Incurfions of these numerous Indian Nations, and from a Body of regular Troops at the fame Time. As the French are very fenfible of thefe Advantages to be gained from the Friendship of the Indian Nations, they neglect no Means in their Power to procure them: And it is to be hoped, that the Northern Colonies will be no lefs affiduous in a Matter on which their Well-being at least depends.

Some People with that the Indians may remain neuter, and think it advifeable to purfue Measures for that Purpose, by which many horrid Barbarities would be prevented. No doubt this is to be wifhed; but can the English Colonies by any Means be affured, that the French will be fincere