USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VII > Part 72
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Gave a String.
To this Teedyuscung Answered :
" Brother :
" I will, in Answer to what you tell me, let you know what I intend to do. I shall, Brother, as I Promised to speak with a loud Voice to the Nations, perform my Promise, and speak to the Different Nations. I will faithfully let them know what you have promised ; and, as we are Witnesses that you are Wealthy and Powerful, and well disposed to assist such as shall come in as Brothers, I will let them know it; And, also, as I think it is very proper that I should do so, and as I think it my Duty, whatever Nation I see coming against the English, whenever I see them, I will make ready and
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do every Thing in my Power to vindicate the Cause of myself and of my Brethren. If I am able, I will let them go no farther than where I tell them to stop. If they will not, by reasonable Terms, turn about and join with me, I will then either then make an end of them, or they of me. And if there is a great number, so that I may not be able to withstand them, I will take all prudent steps to let my Brethren, the English, know. And also, if I perceive that there is so great a number that it is not safe for my Women and Children, I will acquaint my Brethren, the English, that they may assist me in [defending my Women & Children, And I will leave my Country and bring them down to you.
"Now you may remember, I was stiled by my Uncles, the Six Nations, a Woman, in former Years, and had no Hatchet in my Hand, but a Pestle or Hominy Pounder; But now, Brethren, here are some of my Uncles, who are present to witness the Truth of this; as I had no Tomahawk, and my Uncles were always stiled Men, and had Tomahawks in their Hands, they gave me a Toma- hawk. And as my Uncles have given me the Tomahawk, and ap- pointed and authorized me to make Peace with a Tomahawk in my Hand, I take that Tomahawk and turn the edge of it against your Enemies, the French. In Confirmation of what I now say, I give you this String."
Gave a String.
"Brother :
"I have just a Word or two more. I remember what you have spoker., in order that we may prevent any Mischief by having a Signal. I should be glad that the French may not deceive us, that not one, but several signs & methods may be fixed on by you ; And whatever you shall think proper, I will agree to."
Gave a Belt.
I then returned Teedyuscung thanks for his kind Speech, and let him know that I would consult with the Governor about settling the Signals, and would give him an Answer.
Teedyuscung, then taking up four Belts and a String, spoke to his Uncles, the Six Nations, telling them, "that as they had empowered him, he had, in the presence of these Witnesses they had sent, made a firm Peace with their Brethren, the English, He, therefore, by these Belts, desired that they would perform their Part ; and as they said they would take hold of the English by one Hand, and he by the other, he had now done it; And as the Chain of Friendship was now Brightened, he desired they would be strong, and if they see any Enemies coming against us, they would look on it; that whoever Strikes any one of us, Strikes all." These Belts he gave to Anaquateeka, and desired he would carry them to the Six Nations.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Teedyuscung then acquainted me that he had done, whereupon Packsinosa spoke to me as follows :
" Brother :
" I heartily thank you for being so kind as to wipe the Sweat from our Faces, picking out the Briars, and taking away all bad Thoughts from our Minds, and cleaning the Passage from the Heart to the Throat, that we may see our Brethren, and be well from all our Wounds. By these Strings we return you thanks."
Gave a String.
The same he said by another String, to the Six Nations and Delawares.
Then the Young Warrior, Anaquateeka, arose, and directing his Speech to the English and his Cousins, said :
" Brethren :
"My Cousins have entrusted me with all that was here trans- acted respecting the great Work of Peace here confirmed, to lay it before the Six Nations. I assure you I will execute the Trust reposed in me with Faithfulness, and lay it before the Six Nations, particularly before the Senecas, to whom I belong. I do not pre- tend to be a Counsellor; I am a Young Warrior; yet the Affairs of War and Peace belong to us Warriors; and as I am entrusted, I assure you I will take care that all the Six Nations may know what is here done."
Then His Honour, the Governor, Mr. Logan, and Mr. Peters came into Council. I acquainted the Governor that I thought it was proper what had been transacted this Morning should be read ; and it was accordingly done, after which the Governor addressed Packsinosa as follows :
" Brother Packsinosa :
" You have been frequently invited by this Government to come and give us the pleasure of a visit; I am glad to see you; I take you by the Hand, and bid you heartily welcome, & thank you for bringing along with you Abraham, the Mohiccon Chief; he is like- wise extremely Welcome."
Gave a String.
" Brother :
" We have often enquired after you, and always heard you con- tinued to be our hearty Friend, and a Lover of Peace. Sir William Johnson was kind enough to send me An Account of the Con- ferences he lately held with you at Fort Johnson, and they gave me great Satisfaction.
" Brother :
" With Pleasure I acquaint you that Peace is now concluded, and it will add much to the Joy all feel on this Successful Issue of our
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Conferences, & I am glad to see you & Abraham here to take hold of the Peace Belt."
Gave a Belt.
" Brother :
"We were in hopes to have seen you with Teedyuscung when he came here. We heard you was not come, but would follow. I have staid some time in Expectation of your Arrival. I should have been glad to have spent more time with you, but the Business of the Government obliges me to return to Philadelphia this After- noon, so that you will please to use Despatch in letting me know anything you may have to say to us."
Having finished this Speech, the Governor told Packsinosa that some Presents were reserved for him and his Friends, which should be delivered presently.
Teedyuscung then addressing himself to the Governor, spoke as follows :
"Brother :
" I have a Word or two more to say ; You know when you em- ploy your Soldiers they are paid for their Services, As I am joined with you, you being rich and I poor, as I am going against your Enemies and carrying my Flesh against them, I think it would be proper, for the Encouragement of my Young Men, to appoint some Reward for Scalps and Prisoners, and that some place may be fixed where the Scalps and Prisoners may be brought in and the Reward received, that my Men may return quickly from thence."
The Governor said he would take into Consideration what he, Teedyuscung, had said, and in half an Hour would return an Answer.
Teedyuscung further added, You may remember when I men- tioned Isaac Norris, the Speaker, I mentioned him alone, but I did not intend to mention him alone, but that he, with the Assembly, should look into it and send Copies Home; I then told Teedyus- cung that I had no Objection to Mr. Norris with the Assembly, sending Authentic Copies of the Minutes of this Treaty and Deeds Home.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
SUNDAY, August 7th, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable the Governor.
William Logan, Richard Peters,
Esquires, Members of the Council,
Conrad Weiser, Esq".
Mr. John Pumpshire, Interpreter.
Teedyuscung.
Daniel.
Packsinosa, Shawanese Chief.
Seneca Chief.
Abraham, Mohiccon Chief.
A Nanticocke and 4 other Delaware Indians.
Teedyuscung addressed the Governor as follows : " Brother :
"We have now finished ; The Treaty is over ; Peace is confirmed; I told you I thought of going to Philadelphia, but upon considering the matter with more attention, I think it will be more for the Publick Service if I proceed immediately to Diahogo; Many Na- tions will be uneasy to know what has been done at this Council Fire, and will take their Measures accordingly; I shall, therefore, make the best of my Way to Diahogo and proclaim there, and to Nations still more distant, the Confirmation of the Peace with our Brethren, the English; This will take up three. or four Months, After which I may perhaps come and see you at Philadelphia; I wish the Governor a good Journey, and that we may both Live to enjoy the Fruits of this happy Peace which gives my People great Joy."
To which the Governor returned the following Answer:
" Brother Teedyuscung :
" It gives me great Pleasure that we have brought the important Business we met about to so happy an Issue; You have very agree- ably prevented my mentioning to you the Necessity of your return- ing Home in order to publish to the Indians what has been trans- acted here; I thank you for your Change of Purpose ; it is a further Sign of your Zeal for Peace, and I make no doubt but you will use " your utmost dispatch.
" In answer to what you requested this morning I assure you that your Warriors will always find this Government ready to reward them for any Services they shall do against the Enemy. I cannot at present give you a more particular Answer, but shall lay your Proposals before the Assembly, who meet To-morrow, and consult with them thereupon."
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Teedyuscung replied :
" Brother the Governor :
"You have not so much as given us a rusty Iron to defend our- selves. If we meet an Enemy on the Road, what are we to do ? We cannot defend ourselves against him. We have nothing to do it with. Our Young Warriors think as much of themselves, and their Lives are as dear to them as white People's. But you have not given them any Encouragement to go against the Enemy. Can this be right ? You know you have not. Consider this well, Brother.
" Further, Brother, I think it proper to tell you, if English and Indians shall go to War together, my Young Men will not be Sub- ject to an English Captain ; and if any of your People will go to War with me, I expect they will be Subject to my Directions. We understand our Way of Fighting better than you."
The Governor then said he had given Directions to Colonel Weiser to agree with him on proper Signals for the Indians, when they were coming towards the inhabited Parts of this Province, as this was a Matter that ought not to be spoke of in Public.
They then took a kind Leave of each other, and the Governor set out for Philadelphia.
Compared with the Original by
JACOB DUCHE,
Assistant Clerk to Mr. Croghan.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday, 11th August, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
James Hamilton,
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters,
John Mifflin,
Thomas Cadwalader, } Esquires.
On the ninth Instant the Governor returned from Easton, and the Evening before, an Express brought him a Letter from the Council of New York dated the eighth Instant, informing him that Lieutenant Governor Delancey embark'd for Albany the day before, and inclosing two Letters directed to him, one from B. General Webb's Aid-de-Camp, dated at Fort Edward the Third Instant, and the other from Captain Christie at Albany, dated the Fourth, acquainting Governor Delancey, by General Webb's Order, that Fort William Henry was invested on the morning of the third In- stant, and a large Number of Boats landed with 'Troops and Artil- lery on the West side of the Lake, not far, but in plain Sight from
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
the Fort ; That the Communication was quite cut off, and a small Scout having been sent from Fort Edward, had brought in a Priso- ner, a Lieutenant of the Canadians, who informed that their whole Force consisted of four thousand Canadians, four thousand five hun- dred Indians, and the rest Regulars, with thirty-six Pieces of Can- non, and at least five Mortars. That the Garrison at Fort William Henry did not exceed twenty-two hundred Men, and at Fort Ed- ward, Fifteen Hundred.
The Governor informed the Council, that on Tuesday Evening he receiv'd a Message from the Assembly, by Mr. Baynton and Mr. West, Two of their Members, that the House was met and ready to do Business, if the Governor had anything to lay before them ; he told them he had nothing to propose that Evening, but in Conver- sation, mentioned that he had received some late News, which obliged him to call a Council the next morning, and that then he should have an Affair of Consequence to lay before them ; and added, that he expected to have more Particulars in the morning by the Post, or sooner by Express. That the Contents of the Let- ters were the Subject of Conversation between him and the Mem- bers, and they acquainted him that Mr. Bradford was expected at night or in the morning from New York, and would bring a full Account of the Siege and Progress of the Enemy.
And notwithstanding this important Intelligence was as well known to the Assembly as to the Governor, the House had adjourned to the sixteenth without sending him any Notice or Message upon the Occasion, which was told him Yesterday morning, and therefore the Council was not called as they might have expected. The advices were sent by Express to the Governor of Maryland, request- ing he would forward Copies to the other Governors, and to Col. Stanwix at Carlisle.
It was then considered what Assistance this Government could send to New York, in case of the success of the Enemy ; and after a long Consultation, as we were without a Militia Law, and the hundred thousand Pound Act expressly restrained the Provincial Forces to the Duties of ranging and guarding the Forts on the Frontiers, it was concluded that the Governor had it not in his. Power either to put the Province into a Posture of Defence or send any Men to the Relief of New York. It was, therefore, recommended to the Governor to set these Matters forth in the strongest Manner to the Assembly, and likewise to urge them to make the best Im- provement of the late Peace made with the Indians at Easton, by giving handsome Encouragement to their Warriors to go against the Enemy, furnishing their Women and Children with Provisions and Cloathes till they could provide for themselves; and erecting a Trading House under proper Care and Management at Fort Augusta, and complying with all the other Requests made by the Indians in the late Treaty.
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A Letter from Governor Sharpe, dated the fourteenth of July, was read, in which he informes the Governor, that one Street, who was taken at Fort Granville by the French and carried to a Place near Fort duquesne, and was afterwards in the Fort, and had made his Escape from thence with a Negro Man, was examined on Oath ; and on Examination declared, that about a month before, the Garri- son in that Place consisted of between three and four hundred French and a few Indians; they were afterwards reinforced with two hundred French from the Mississippi, in twelve Routs; that Seven Hundred more were expected from a Fort on the Lake, with a Train of Artillery, and that an Expedition was intended against these Provinces, to be conducted by the Officers from the Mississippi.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday the 13th August, 1757.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
James Hamilton,
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader, S
An Express arrived at three o'Clock this afternoon, with a Letter from the Council of New York, dated Yesterday, enclosing a Letter to them from Governor Delancy, dated at Albany the tenth, at six o'Clock in the morning, giving an Account that Fort William Henry surrendered at seven o'Clock in the morning of the eighth, and that Fort Edward was attacked on the ninth at night. The Council in their Letter expressed how distressed they were on their Frontiers, and desire' Governor Denny would immediately send them what Assistance he could from this Governmt Copies were instantly made of the above Letters, and despatched by Express to Col. Stan- wix at Carlisle, to Governor Sharpe, and to Mr. Chew at Newcastle.
Orders were sent to the Colonels of the Four Regiments of Militia in the Lower Counties to assemble their Companies, see that they were provided as the Law requires, and to hold themselves in Readi- ness to march.
The Particulars proper to be pressed upon the Assembly at their Meeting were again considered, and the Heads of a Speech agreed upon.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 16th August, 1757, A. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
James Hamilton,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
John Mifflin, Thomas Cadwalader,
The Minutes of the preceding Councils were read and approved.
The Draught of the Governor's Speech was read, some Altera- tions made, and then agreed to.
The Secretary was directed to acquaint the Speaker that if a Quorum of the House met this Evening, his Honour proposed to make a Speech to them in the Council Chamber.
The Case of the French Neutrals was set forth by Anthony Benezet, and they being found worthy of Commiseration, it was sent and strongly recommended to the Commissioners to do all in their Power for them.
A Letter from Thomas Pownal, Esquire, Governor of the Massa- chusets Bay, dated the fourth Instant, was read, inclosing the fol- lowing List of Artificers employed by Mr. Shirley at Oswego, who were taken Prisoners there, carried to Quebec, and from thence in a Cartel Ship to England, and informing the Governor that upon Application to the Lords of the Admirality, in behalf of these poor People, their Lordships were pleased to direct that they should take their Passage on board his Majesty's Ships to their own Country, and that he had advanced them Subsistence to carry them to their respective homes, and recommended them to his Honour's Care, Patronage, and Protection :
A List of Philadelphia Shipwrights inclosed in the foregoing Letter.
" William Taylor, Samuel Ferguson,
John Lumm,
" Samuel Mills,
Jacob Frederick,
James Dawson,
" Thomas Moloney,
Thomas Linnel,
David Evans,
" Arthur Donaldson,
Joseph January, Henry Handrop,
" William Drury,
Samuel Edminston,
Samuel Spencer."
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 16th August, 1757, P. M.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Joseph Turner,
Richard Peters,
John Mifflin, Esquires.
Thomas Cadwalader,
The Governor received a Message from the Assembly that the House was met and ready to receive anything he might have to lay before them, and his Honour acquainted the Members he would send a Message instantly by the Secretary, and accordingly the Secretary was sent to the House to acquaint the Speaker that the Governor required the Attendance of the Speaker and the House in the Council Chamber immediately.
Then the Speaker, with the whole House, waited on the Governor in the Council Chamber, and his Honour made the following Speech :
" Mr. Speaker, and Gentlemen of the Assembly :
" The Letters now laid before you contain the most alarming Ac- counts of the great and immediate Danger to which his Majesty's Colonies are exposed by the Progress of a French Army, composed of Regulars, Canadians, and Indians, to the amount of Eleven Thou- sand, and supplied with a large Train of Artillery, consisting of Thirty-Six Pieces of Cannon, and at least Five Mortars. You will perceive that Fort William Henry was invested by them on the Third Instant, and surrendered on the eighth; and that the next day they attacked Fort Edward, where it is doubted they will not meet with a long Resistance, as there was but a small Force in it, and no Probability that the Draughts of the Militia would arrive . Time enough from the several Northern Governments for its Re- lief.
" Where the Progress of our ever vigilant and restless Enemy will be stopped, God only knows; but from their Numbers, and the vast Rapidity with which they prosecute their Advantages, we may be certain that some grand Design is on Foot, as a Counter Project to that of his Excellency, the Earl of Loudoun, for over-running and conquering these Colonies in his Absence. And it is more than probable, from other Intelligence now likewise laid before you, that we shall soon hear of another French Army falling upon these Southern Provinces from the Ohio and Mississippi, in order to sup- port that which is now marching down upon Albany and New York; while most of the Cities and Places of Trade lie exposed to the Mercy of the smallest Force from Sea. This, Gentlemen, is a true but melancholly State of our Affairs. The most prejudiced Eye cannot now set the Danger at a Distance, nor presume to treat these
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
Accounts as the Tales of a Day, invented or exaggerated through Party Views.
" It is not my Intention to aggravate our present Distress by a painful Review of what is past, but can I, Gentlemen, consistent with my Duty, forbear to mention that this Province has been the unhappy Seat of a cruel War for upwards of Two Years, groaning under the bloody Outrages of a most barbarous Enemy, the Troops sent to our Protection defeated and destroyed, our Borders pillaged and laid waste, great Numbers murdered and carried into Captivity, and Eleven Thousand of the Enemy at this Instant, in the Heart of a neighbouring Province, at present carrying all before them ; while we, amidst this Series of Misfortunes, are neither put into a suffi- cient Posture to defend ourselves, nor have Power or Authority, out of the vast Number of fighting Men this Government contains, to send a single Man of them to the Relief of our Neighbours, with- out calling in the ranging Parties that are constantly out, and evacua- ting the few Garrisons we have on our Frontiers, now more than ever necessary for their Defence. These Things, Gentlemen, are so surprizing in their Nature, that they would exceed all Credibility, if the Facts were not too Flagrant and too fatally felt. Let me, therefore, intreat you, if you make a Distinction between Liberty and Slavery, between your inestimable Privileges as Englishmen, and a miserable Subjection to arbitrary Power, to embrace this Op- portunity, perhaps the last, to retrieve, as much as possible, former Errors, and act vigorously, as your All is now at Stake.
" There are Three Things which I must immediately recommend to you :
" First. To enable me to send an effectual Succour to the City and Province of New York, where a Stand, it is hoped, may be made, as a Moment's Time is not to be lost. This, I conceive, can only be done by encouraging a Number of able-bodied and publick spirited Volunteers to go from this City, and the Parts adjacent, as the Provincials cannot be spared from our Frontiers, without expos- ing the Province to immediate Danger; and were they even a Force sufficient for the Purpose, are at too great a Distance, and too much dispersed, to bring any Timely Relief. It will be necessary, there- fore, to provide a sufficient Quantity of Arms, Ammunition, Tents, and other Camp Necessaries, for those who shall go on this Service.
"Secondly. As you cannot but be convinced that the Want of a Militia Law in this Province is of the most dangerous Consequence, and has been a great Source of our present Misfortunes, encourag- ing the Enemy in their Bloody Designs, as well knowing us to be an undisciplined Multitude, incapable of defending ourselves or assisting others, I must once more press and earnestly request you to unite, and enable me to call forth the natural Strength of the Pro- vince by an equitable and constitutional Militia Law, which will in the strongest Manner provide for our own Defence, supply the
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Means of assisting our Neighbours, and render us really formidable to the Enemy, and at a less Expence than the present Method of Defence.
"In forming this Law, I hope you will avoid those Points on which we have formerly differed; and particularly that you will not endeavour to take the Appointment of the Officers out of the Hand of the Government, as this would be destructive of the just Prero- gative of the Crown, to which I can never consent; His Majesty having already signified His Pleasure in that Matter by the Repeal of the former Law. Let me, therefore, Gentlemen, prevail on you to frame a proper Bill, suitable to our present imminent Danger, on such a Plan as has been found effectual by the Wisdom and Ex- perience of our Neighbours and Fellow Subjects.
"Thirdly. I recommend it to you to make the best Improvement of our Alliance, entered into with the Indians at the late Treaty at Easton, by enabling me to give them Encouragement, together with Ammunition and other Necessaries, to act offensively against the Enemy, and likewise to comply with the several Requests they made of me at the said Treaty, the Particulars whereof you will see from the Minutes which shall be laid before you.
" These Things will require the utmost Dispatch; and they are of such great and immediate Consequence to the Preservation of our Lives and Properties at this Juncture of extreme Danger, that I think it my Duty to enter upon no other Business till they are effectually provided for.
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