USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 12
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"Sir, Your most obedient humble Servant,
"ROBT. H. MORRIS."
A Letter to the Governor from Sir Charles Hardy. " FORT GEORGE, NEW YORK, 16th April, 1756. “ Sir :
"I am favoured with your Letter of the 5th, by which I see from the Resolutions of your Commissioners the Proposal I had the Honour to make you for attacking the Indians by a joint Force of our Provinces and new Jersey is at an End, as it must be too late to make such an Attempt, after the Fort you propose building at Shamokin is compleated. Had this Service been undertaken in due Season, I trust, by a vigorous Pursuit and attack of those Indians in their Places of abode and Retreat, they might soon have been obliged to have sued for Peace. Under this Consideration I pleased myself in the hopes that Your Commissioners would have accepted the assistance offered by this and the Province of New Jersey.
" By a Letter of the 5th Instant from Sir William Johnson, he tells me that he hears 300 Warriors of the Delawares, &ca., appeared at the meeting at Otseningo, and told the Delegates to the Six Nations that they would, agreeable to their. Desire, lay down the Hatchet, provided their Chief Men were willing. Their Resolutions Sir William had not received; None of their Chief Men attending that meeting, and the Answer of the young ones appears evasive. I have wrote Sir William Johnson very pressingly upon it, and de- sired him to urge the Six Nations to take some speedy and vigorous
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Resolutions with regard to the Delawares. When I receive their Determinations I shall communicate them to you.
. "The Connection between the Delawares and the Indians of the Six Nations makes it difficult for me to offer you my Thoughts on your declaring War with the Delawares; upon the whole, I should not think it advisable, till we know what steps they have and will further take with their nephews. I have wrote Sir William John- son on this Subject; and if, on his further pressing this Matter to the Indians, they should decline chastizing their Dependants, I should judge they will give them up to be punished; in either of which cases a Declaration of War, in my Opinion, will not only be justifi- able but necessary. But then the principal Means of carrying on such a War is wanting, by having no Law to Subject your Forces to Military Discipline; and while officers and Soldiers can take a Liberty of deserting their Stations whenever the service becomes disagreeable, your number will not avail you, nor can Forts be maintained.
" By late advices from the West Indies, we learn the French Islands are in want of Provisions (and I hope Canada may be in no better State), and that their Ports are open to Ships of all Na- tions with such Supplies. The Trade carried on by these Colonies to the Dutch Islands, &ca. will not only amply supply the French Islands, but will doubtless encourage them to attempt throwing in large Quantities to Louisburg, from whence Canada may easily be furnished. It appears to me absolutely necessary to prevent all supplies of Provisions going from these Colonies at this Time, and the only Method to answer this good Purpose, must be by proper Laws passed in the Provision Colonies Prohibiting such an Expor- tation. The Assembly of this Province are to meet soon, when I shall recommend to them to pass such a Law, which if they should come into, will not prevent the Enemy's being supplied, in the manner above mentioned, without the neighbouring Governments concur in the same measure. I have made this proposal to them, and beg Leave to recommend it to your consideration, and beg your Thoughts upon it, and the Resolutions of your Assembly, if you think proper to recommend it to them. April 15th, Yesterday, I received several Letters from Albany, and Sir William Johnson, inclosing me Copies of others from Col. Mercer and Capt. Wil- liams, at the Great Carrying Place, informing me that a Body of French and Indians have posted themselves and are surrounded with Pickets, about Twelve Miles to the Eastward of Oswego; and that Col. Mercer has further Information from some Indians, that another Body of Indians, &ca., are on their march from Niagara, which, together with the first mentioned, are to form an attack on Oswego. This is the Substance of my Information with respect to the Motions of the Enemy. General Shirley's absence, and great Distance from the Scene of Action, makes it impossible for him to
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give the proper Orders in due Time, to stop the Progress of the Enemy in that Quarter ; the want of which enables them to make advances that I fear will tend greatly to the Prejudice of his Ma- jesty's Service, and the Interest of these Provinces. Under these Circumstances, I have, by the Return of the Express, offered my Thoughts to the Commanding Officers at the Head Quarters, and recommended to them to pursue such Measures as to me appear most proper on the present Emergency. Colonel Bradstreet is set off with a very considerable number of Whale Boats and Battoes with Provisions for Oswego, which they have much wanted. I wish he may arrive safe with his Convoy. I think his Voyage will be hazardous, if the Enemy get footing on the Waters leading to that Fort. In short, Sir, from the accounts I have received, "Things do not appear to be so well regulated as they necessarily should be for promoting the publick Service, and if the French once post, it will cost us much more to remove them than it would. to have prevented their gaining any such advantage,
" By my Letters from Sir William Johnson, the last of the 12th Instant, which I received yesterday, I think we have at last brought about an Accommodation with the Delawares. His Accounts are as follow. In his first Letter, vist: 'As I finished my Letter, Two Oneida Indians, on whom I can depend, brought me an account, that the Delegates sent to treat with the Delawares were returned, and say that they have settled that unhappy Breach between them and us. They are to be here in two or three Days (meaning Fort Johnson), when I shall be able to give your Excellency a true State of their Proceedings at that Meeting. They further add that the Delawares have engaged to join us, with the Five Nations, against the French.'
" In his last Letter he says : 'This Evening some of the Dele- gates sent to treat with the Delawares arrived here (meaning Mount Johnson) with several of the Oneidas, Tuscororas, Onondagoes and Mohawks. I have only Time to tell your Excellency that they assure me they have made up that unhappy affair, and that the Delawares expect those of their People who may be Prisoners, be delivered up as soon as possible, and then they promise to deliver up those they have of ours. They say they will join the Six Na- tions against the French, if they desire it. I shall write your Ex- cellency more about it as soon as I hear all they have to say.'
"Thus far, I hope, thro' the Interposition of the Six Nations, this affair is in a fair way of being brought to a happy Issue, and I hope will encourage you not to declare War against those People, though I observe your Paper makes Mention of their being de- clared Enemies, and Rewards offered for Scalps. The Mohawks have sent Four of their Sachems to invite. our River Indians to remove to their Castles, and I hear propose giving them a Portion of their Lands to settle upon.
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" Upon a review of my proposal for a Prohibition and the Expor- tation of Provisions, I must beg Leave to make this Addition, to wit: that if the Assemblies should decline passing the necessary Laws for this Purpose, that the Government should agree to lay an Embargo, which will most effectually answer the End desired. I shall have no Difficulty in this Measure, with the concurrence of the neighbouring Governments, and think I can answer for that of his Majestie's Council of this Province.
"I am, with great Regard, Your most obedient and humble Ser- vant,
"CHAS. HARDY."
The Governor acquainted the Council that Captain Hobson, of the Forty-Fourth Regiment, was arrested and in Jayl, as he was going to mount his Horse to return to the Regiment, and had pre- sented a Petition praying the Governor's Protection ; whereupon he had prepared a Writ of Protection, which was read, and the Council declared their Ignorance of the Legality or Force of such Writ, but if of Force, as the Governor says it is, Captain Hobson is entitled to all the Relief the Governor can give him.
Then the Governor acquainted the Council that Mr. Israel Pem- berton some days ago came to him and said many of the Friends, as well as he, were of Opinion that if a proper Message could be de- livered to the Delawares they would hearken to it and might be brought to sue for a Peace, and with the Governor's Leave they would ask the Indians to dine with them and learn their Thoughts upon it; and if they concurred with them in Opinion they would try to bring it about, and be at all the Expence, nor make it a Govern- ment affair, but a private one of their own; to which the Governor consented on this express Condition, that nothing should be said to them but by Mr. Weiser, and that all that should pass should be faithfully related to him for his farther Consent; That afterwards Mr. Weiser and Mr. Pemberton acquainted him that the Quakers, after setting forth to the Indians their peaceable Professions and religious Principles with respect to War, offered to become mediators between the Government and the Delawares, and to send some of their People into the Indian Country with Messages for this Pur- pose, to try if they could not persuade them to lay down their Arms, and requested some Indians to accompany them and assist in this good and charitable Work ; That Scarroyady was greatly pleased with this Proposal, and declared he and the Six Nations would join with them in it; that they were thereupon consulting with the In- dians about a proper Message, and would acquaint him with it as soon as it should be settled ; That the Quakers would bear all the Expence, and do nothing without the Governor's approbation and Concurrence ; That he told Mr. Pemberton when Matters were brought to a proper Ripeness he would then lay them before the Council and take their advice upon it; That this afternoon Mr.
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Pemberton and Mr. Weiser came to acquaint him that after long and mature Deliberations it was at last concluded that Scarroyady only should send a Message in the name of the Six Nations, setting forth their Conferences with the Quakers, their religious Professions, and their Characters, and the Influence they had as well with the Government as the People, their desireing to bring about a Peace, and their offer to become Mediators between them and the Govern- ment ; that he and the other Six Nations had heard what they said with Pleasure, and desired they would hearken to it, cease their Hostilities, and accept this Mediation, and least they might be afraid that they had done too much Mischief and taken away too many Lives, even more than could possibly be forgiven, he assured them these peaceable People would, notwithstanding this, obtain their Pardon if they would immediately desist, send the English Prisoners to some certain Place, there deliver them up to the Gov- ernor, and request Peace of him and Forgiveness for what was past.
On this the Governor said he called the Council, and desires their Opinion and advise on these Questions :
"1st. Whether it is proper that such a Message should be allowed to be sent by Friends in order to mediate a Peace with the Indians? and if so,
"2dly. Whether such an one as is proposed or any other ?
"3dly. Whether this Government should appear to countenance the Message, and how far and in what Manner, or if it should only tacitly allow of such a Message being sent by Friends as an appli- cation of their own and as an affair entirely of a private nature ?
" 4thly. Whether there is not Reason to fear that this Message, being sent before the Proposed Expedition to build a Fort at Shamo- kin is carried into Execution, may not be attended with ill conse- quences in apprizing the Enemy Indians of our Design, and if they happen not be well disposed for a Peace, may they not obstruct or harrass our Forces in their March to Shamokin ?
" 5thly. Whether he shall give any private Orders to the Mes- sengers to bring back with them Paxinosa or other friendly Indians of the Shawonese, &cª", that may be inclined to leave the Sasque- hannah, and live under our Protection among the Inhabitants ; and if such Message be approved, then the Signals and the way of their Return must be settled ?"
The Council were long in their consideration, and advised the Governor not to interest the Government any way in such a Message, but to leave it entirely to Friends ; That it might be well enough to acquaint the Messengers if they should see Paxonosa, or any other friendly Indians, to assure them of our affection to them, and Willingness to give them a kind Reception, and to persuade them to come with them.
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The Signal agreed upon was a small Union Flag to be carried on high on a Pole by the Indians.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 26th April, 1756. PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esquire, Lieu- tenant Governor ..
Robert Strettell,
William Logan, } Esquires.
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters,
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The Governor informed the Council that Newcastle, Jagrea, and William Lacquis came to him this morning, as he thought to take their Leave of him, their Guides and Passports having been pre- pared, and the Men ready to set out who were to guard them thro' the Inhabitants ; but to his Surprize they made the following Speech to him :
" Brother the Governor :
" The other day it was agreed between Scarroyady and some other of our Indians on one Part, and some of the good People of this Town on the other Part, that we three should go with a Message from Scarroyady to our Cousins, the Delawares, at Wyomink; but as Scarroyady never consulted us before hand, and took upon him in too peremptory a Manner to order us to go, we now come to acquaint the Governor that he had no Right to do this : we are not his Vassals, nor to be treated in so haughty a Manner; and, there- fore, we tell the Governor that we will not carry any of Scarroyady's Messages. If the Governor has anything to say to us we will hear what he says, and if he desires us to go, and will tell us what to say when we come there, we will go and deliver faithfully the Governor's Message ; but we will not go on Scarroyady's Errands."
In reply the Governor told the Indians that he understood it was a Point agreed upon between the Indians and some of the principal Quakers that Newcastle and the other Two should go to Wyomink, and in the name of Scarroyady carry a Message to the Enemy Delawares, dictated by the Quakers, full of good advice, and very proper for People of their Peaceable Persuasion, and that this change of their mind was a surprize upon him; but if they were determined not to go he had no Power over them.
He added that he had received some advices which he would communicate to them as soon as he should have consulted his Coun- cil, and he would call them to meet this Forenoon.
The Governor then ordered Sir Charles Hardy's Letter of the Sixteenth of April to be read, which being done, he told the Council
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that he had communicated. to Mr. Weiser, and he to Scarroyady and Montour, who seemed very much pleased with the News, and were desirous to hasten their Journey that they might assist Sir William Johnson to bring this Matter to such an Issue as might induce this Government to Suspend Hostilities; but Mr. Weiser by their advice, said that for the present it might not be proper to take any publick notice of it, but to continue in the way proposed by the Declaration, which wou'd have a good effect, and make the Dela- wares more in earnest to sue for a Peace. The Governor said further, that now he proposed to impart the Contents of this Letter to New- castle and the other Indians, and to send them to Wyomink with a Message to notify this Transaction to the Delawares there, and desired the Council's advice about it, and what sort of a Message might be proper to send. The Governor added, that to assist them in their Counsels he had ordered Mr. Weiser to attend, who, being called in, was desired to give his Sentiment upon this new Turn of affairs, and what was proper to be done, as well with respect to the Six Nations as to the Enemy Delawares, observing that, considering how matters had turned out, it was unfortunate to have published the Declaration of War.
Mr. Weiser said he had a good deal of Conversation with Scar- rowyady, Montour, and Jonathan, about the Declaration of War before it issued, assuring them that the Government depended upon their Judgment very much as to this Step, and were put upon it by being so often reproached by Scarroyady and the other Indians, and they advised it as a Step absolutely necessary to bring the Delawares to their Senses, and said it would be perfectly agree- able to the Six Nations, and reminded him of what passed at the Council on this Subject, vis™: that the Chief Speaker of the Senecas had expressed himself as if the English should do nothing till they had tried their Influence with the Delawares; and that he stood up in Council and most vehemently opposed this advice declaring and prov- ing to the Council, that the Delawares were the aggressors, and had killed numbers of the English, who, notwithstanding this, were sitting with their Heads bent to their knees; that before he left them he advised them to strike and to put the Hatchet into the Hands of the Friendly Indians on Sasquehannah, and before he came away, he demanded the Hatchet to be put into his own Hands. That not- withstanding this, they contented themselves with acting on the defensive, and laying their Complaints before the Six Nations, alledging they were answerable for the Hostilities of the Delawares, who were their Subjects, and expected they would call them off and punish them severely ; whereupon the Council approved Scar- royady's Opinion, and said the English should fight, and never cease Hostilities until the Delawares were brought to make Peace and delivered over their Prisoners. And Scarroyady was very sure the Six nations would not take it amiss that Rewards were offered for the Scalps of the Delawares.
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That these Discourses being held previous to the Declaration of War, he was assured the Six Nations would approve it ; but advised a Message should be sent to the Enemy, Delawares, by Newcastle, to make them acquainted with what had passed at Otsiningo, to know if they were apprized of it and were Parties to it, and what conduct they did now, or would for the future observe to the Eng- lish, till Terms of Peace were agreed upon ; and that at the same Time the Governor might let Paxinosa know, that he, and any of the Indians who had continued true to the English, wou'd be very welcome if they enclined to come into the Province.
The Council considered the Matter well and advised the Gov- ernor to send such a Message, and in the afternoon to send for Newcastle, Jagrea, and William Lacquis, and desired Mr. Span- genberg might be present.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Monday the 26th April, 1756, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable ROBERT HUNTER MORRIS, Esqr., Lieu- tenant Governor.
William Logan, 2 Richard Peters, S
Esquires.
Newcastle, Jagrea, William Lacquis. Mr. Spangenberg, Mr. Weiser.
The Minutes of the preceding Council were read and approved.
The following Speech was made to the Indians by the Governor :
" Brethren :
" I told you in the morning I had something to communicate to you, and it is this.
" I have received an account from Sir William Johnson, sent me by Sir Charles Hardy, Governor of New York, that, immediately after the Council held at Fort Johnson, Deputies were dispatched by the Six Nations to Otsaningo, and that they convened the Dela- wares, Shawonese, and other Indians, from the Several Towns on the Sasquehannah, to the number of 300, to whom they delivered Mes- sages from that Council, blaming them for taking the Hatchet against their Brethren, the English, and commanding them to lay it down immediately, and that they had hearkened to this Message and agreed to strike no more. What I tell you is in this Letter" (here the Governor gave Mr. Weiser Sir Charles Hardy's Letter
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of the 16th of April, to translate to them) ; and when he had made them understand what Sir Charles Hardy had wrote, the Governor took a Belt in his hand and proceeded.
" Brethren :
" I think it necessary that the Indians at Wyomink, as well Ene- mies as Friends, should know that Sir Charles Hardy has sent me this account from Sir William Johnson, and as two of you are of the Six Nations and one a Delaware, I think it is proper that you should undertake to notify this to them, and, at the same Time to let them know, as from yourselves, that if they are sincerely dis- posed to Peace, and will deliver up the English Prisoners to the Six Nations, and hearken to their advice in laying down the Hatchet, and abide by such Terms as shall be agreed on, you can venture to assure them, that tho' much Blood has been spilt, and that the En- glish, in Resentment of this, are well prepared to avenge themselves, yet they have so great a Regard to the Six Nations that it will be in their Power to persuade the English not to prosecute the War, but to accept fair, Just, and honourable Terms, and I provide you with this Belt to deliver it to them with such a Speech.
" Brethren :
" I speak my own sincere Inclinations when I say I am for Peace, and not only my own but the Sentiments of Others, and particu- larly the earnest Desires of a great number of People who are the Descendents of those that came over with the first Proprietor ; all those are extremely desirous to interpose with the Government to receive the Submission of the Delawares, and to overlook what is past, and establish for the future a firm and lasting agreement, Peace, and affection between us, and have repeatedly applied to me for this Purpose.
" Brethren :
" As many Stories have been told to the Indians to our Preju- dice, I desire you will undeceive them, and particularly I charge William Lacquis to acquaint the Delawares, that those of their Tribe who live amongst us have not had any Mischief done to them, but are treated with our usual kindness, and are at Liberty, and live in Peace and Plenty among us. I charge you, William Lacquis, to declare the Truth to the Indians, and to assure them that they have been imposed on, and do you relate the Care that has been taken, as well by the Government of New Jersey as this, of all the Indians who have staid with us, and that they enjoy our Protection and live as happily as ever."
A String.
" Brethren :
" Paxinosa, and some other Shawonese and other Indians, have not broke Faith with us, but endeavour to dissuade the Delawares from striking us. When they could not succeed they separated
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from them, and now live together in some Place near Wyomink. I would have you go to them and let them likewise know this ac- count from Sir William Johnson, and assure them from me, that if they are enclined to come within the Inhabitants, you have my orders to conduct them, or if they do not incline to come now, but at any other Time, they will, on sending me a message, be pro- vided with a safe Conduct and meet with a hearty Welcome. Let them know that Scarroyady related to me what passed between him and them, and that Aroas and David have likewise made me acquainted with what was said by them when they were last at Wyoming."
Then the Governor gave them a String to give to Paxanosa.
Newcastle, Jagrea, and William Lacquis, returned the Governor an answer, vist .: That the Messages were very good, and what they approved mightly, and would undertake the Journey and de- liver them faithfully; but then they must desire the Governor would make their Apology to Col. Clapham, and tell him that nothing but the Governor's Commands would have induced them to delay their coming to him.
The Governor promised he would, and then told them that Mr. Spangenberg was desired to be present, having some Delaware In- dians under his care, that he might hear what was delivered to them. He desir'd they wou'd go by way of Bethlehem, and take with them one or more of the Indians there, and that Mr. Spangenberg would prepare those Indians for their visit, and persuade some of them to accompany them to Wyomink.
MEMORANDUM.
The Governor, on the twenty-eight of April, wrote a Letter to General Shirley to request One Thousand Arms, having heard that Ten Thousand were arrived at Boston for the Defence of the Colo- nies ; this he did at the Instance of the Commissioners, and the Letter was sent by Express, and is as follows :
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