USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 40
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"' Brothers :
' "By this String of Wampum, we assure you that as soon as we get home we will call a general Council of all Nations over the Lakes, and lay before them what you have said to us, and you may depend on a large Body of our people being here in about two Months, in order to Confirm the Peace on our parts. And we shall use all the Influence we have to withdraw such of our young Men as the French have stole from us this Spring, as soon as Possible. As to your Flesh and Blood, that is amongst us, we can assure you that you will see them again ; but Brothers, we have not many of them, nor never had.'
" Gave a String.
" The Beaver made the following Speech in behalf of the Dela- wares and Shawanese :
"' Brothers :
"'We are very well pleased with what you have said at this Con- ference. Ever since the Treaty at Easton and what passed here last fall, we have looked on the Peace to be Confirmed between you and u's ; And it gives us great Pleasure to see it now in a manner confirmed between you and all our Friends, the several Nations to the sun-setting. As to your flesh and Blood, a little Time will convince you that we are sincere and will perform our Engagements in restoring all them that is in our Possessions.'
" Gave a String.
" During the Time of the Conference, there was near five Hun- dred Indians here."
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" July the 16th, 1759.
" At the Request of the Indians here and with the approbation of Colonel Mercer, Captain Croghan sent the following Speech to Venango by two Wyondott Messengers, for the Warriors of the Western Nations who had joined the French before this Conference : "'Brethren :
"' The Wyondotts, Chepawas, Ottawas, Putawatimes, Twight- wees, Kushkushkies, Kecopas, Shockeys and Musquakes, hear what I am going to say to you : your Brothers, the English, are not Come here to War with the Indians, but to carry on Trade and Commerce with all Nations of them as far as the Sun setting. " ' Brothers :
"' As the Peace is now Confirmed between your Deputies and us, I expect you will abandon the French and leave them and us to fight our own Battles. The Beavers who were present at this Con- ference can tell you what passed between your Deputies and us ; with this Bunch of Wampum I take you by the Hands, and lead you to your own Country, where I desire where I desire you would sit and smoke your Pipes till I give you a call ; I assure you the English have no intention of Injuring you, and I must insist on your paying due regard to this Message and immediately quitting the French, which will confirm me in the good opinion I have of the sin- cerity of your professions made in your behalf by your Deputies at the Conference I held here with them, and will be convincing your Brothers, the Governors of the several Provinces, that you are de- termined to renew, and remain steadfast in your antient friendship with all His Majesty's Subjects.
" Sent twelve fathoms of white Wampum.
" The Indians of the several Nations here sent Speeches to in- force the above speech. The Beaver, the Delaware King, spoke in behalf of all the the Nations who were present at the Conference held here, and desired that the General might be made acquainted with what passed here between them and us, and desired that the General might bring none of the Southward Indians with him; if he should, there would be no perswading some of the Indians but we intend to deceive them."
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A Letter to Governor Denny from Colonel Mercer.
" PITTSBURG, the 6th of August, 1759.
" Sir :
" My last letter to your enclosed Minutes of Conferences held here upon Ratifying the Peace with several Nations of Indians,
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upon signifying what was transacted here to the Indians collected by the French at Venango, they readily consented to what was agreed on by their Deputies ; only two Delawares, a Brother of Teedy- uscung and a Nephew of Cutfinger Peter, apposed their Measures of Leaving the Enemy and coming here immediately to signify their Peaceable intentions. These assured the others that no Peace was intended by us, neither had any Indians joined in sending the Messages, which were contrived only to deceive and lull asleep the Indians till we had Cut their Throats.
"The settling this affair has kept a number of Indians still about us, for all the Wyondotts have come here from Venango, to hold a Conference with the Chiefs of the Delawares, who are assembled to satisfy the Western Tribes, & to take the Hatchet out of their Hands.
" We hear of a Number of the Distant Tribes being at Hand, upon their first Visit, so that there is no appearance of our being able to avoid a vast expence of Provisions; this lays the General under great difficulties in supplying us, and throwing in a sufficient stock for the Support of his arms.
" I have been obliged to reduce the Garrison to Three Hundred and Fifty, and even with this Number, can scarcely save an ounce between the Convoys.
" We are likely to have little Trouble from the Enemy this Way, for their Indians have dropt off to a very few, who, in small parties, lye about Legonier, and this Place, serving as spys, and now and then, taking a Scalp or prisoner. I inclose the Intelligence we have received lately from Presque Isle; how far it may be depended upon, I will not pretend to say ; we expect further Accounts every Minute.
"Some Taway Indians, that had been entertained here some Days, and met with equally kind Treatment of others, took off two Highlanders, One of them a Centinel from his Post, and we find, since killed them both, and were seen proceeding to Venango with their Scalps.
" Captain Gorden, Chief Engineer, is arrived, with most of the Artificers, but does not fix on a Spot for Constructing the Fort, 'till the General comes up. We are preparing the Materials for Building, with what expedition so few Men are capable of.
" I am, Sir, your Honour's most Obedt. Hume· Serv'.,
"HUGH MERCER."
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Intelligence enclosed in the foregoing Letter. 1
"PITTSBURGHI, August 4th, 1759.
" By two of my Spies, who returned this Day from Venango, I am informed that the French at Venango are in the utmost Confu-
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sion, on account brought by some Indians, of the news from Nia- gara, who say the English landed in sight, of the Fort, without much interruption, intrenched themselves, and raised Batteries ; that the French and Indians made a Sally, and were repulsed, with the Loss of Twenty-Eight Officers killed and taken; a great num- ber ot Soldiers killed and taken, and twelve Indians killed. Amongst the Prisoners is Mr. Delinery, who Commanded at this Place, shot through the thick of the Thygh. What Number of the English and Six Nations were killed, they could not tell; that the place had not surrendered when they came away ; but it is the Opinion of all the Indians, that the English are in Possession of it by this, as the Commanding Officer of Niagara sent Letters by these In- dians, to the Commanding Officer at Presque Isle, to acquaint him that he should be obliged to deliver up the place in a few Days, and as Sir William Johnson threatened to cross the Lakes with the Six Nations, and cut off the Settlements at Detroit, desired him to forward an Express to Detroit, with orders for all the Women and Children, with their Effects, to be removed to the Head of Scioto, that they might be ready, upon the first Notice of the Six Nations crossing the Lakes, to remove to their Settlements down the Mis- sissippi.
" Forty-Five Indians arrrived here this Day, amongst which were two Delawares sent from Tuskerawas to acquaint me that there was forty Indians of the Twightwees and Kushkuskee Nations on their way here, sent by their Chiefs to know in what manner the Peace was settled between us and the Western Indians, that they might know how to act. The two Messengers tell me I may expect them here in two Days.
"the 5th. Two Shawanese came here from Presque Isle, and Confirm the Intelligence brought by my two Spies yesterday, with the Addition that the Indians who brought the Intelligence from Niagara to Presque Isle say the French attempted several times to drive our People out of their Trenches ; that great Numbers were killed on both Sides, but most of the French ; that most of the French Officers that were on this river were killed or taken, par- ticularly the blind Captain (called so by the Indians by his being blind with one Eye), who Commanded at Venango, killed, one Neverville, a great Partisan, who used to go frequently with the Indians from this Place, against the Frontier Settlements of Penn- sylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, killed ; that when they left Pres- que Isle the French every moment expected to hear of the Surrender of Niagara to the English."
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Another' Letter to Governor Denny from Colonel Mercer.
" PITTSBURGH the 12th August, 1759. "Dear Sir :
" We have at last got rid of our Neighbours at Venango, who, to render their memory grateful among the Indians, made a virtue of necessity, and what they could not carry off, very liberally dis- tributed to their Friends.
"Croghan's Letter contains all the particulars of our Conquest at Niagara come to hand as yet, and of the Enemies abandoning their Posts in the Ohio.
"Like true Frenchmen they went off with a gasconade, telling the Indians, tho' they must run away at present, yet this River would be in their Possession before the End of the Year. We can now talk to our new Allies in a proper Stile, as their Services are not Necessary, tho' the Consistency of our Plan in bringing them entirely over to the British Interest, ought to be preserved by treating them with a great kindness, but suffering none of their insults.
"I am, with great Esteem, Dear Sir, "Your most Obedt. Hume. Servant, " HUGH MERCER."
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Another Letter to Governor Denny from Colonel Mercer.
"PITTSBURGH, 13th August, 1759. "Sir :
" I had the pleasure of receiving a Letter from your Honour a few days go, and now enclose for your perusal the latest Intelligence from Niagara, and the Enemies' posts upon the Ohio, which last they have found it necessary to evacuate and burn.
" The publick Transactions with Indians at this Place, I flatter myself will be agreeable to the Plan laid by your Honour for se- curing these Western Tribes to the British Interest.
" As I have taken every Opportunity of enforcing the Invitation given them. to go to Philadelphia to ratify the Peace, I am per- swaded they are resolved upon going there as soon as the Circum- stances of their Country will render their leaving it safe and Con- venient.
" There is at present a great Scarcity of Goods here, and as numbers may soon be expected with Indian Traffick 'tis pitty they should be disappointed, if it is proposed to the Trade from Phila- delphia.
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" The Garrison is not yet reinforced ; the Convoys with Provis- ions come in so heavily that we are, tho' a small number, scarcely supplied from one to another.
"I am, Sr., Your Honour's Most
" Obedient Hume. Servant, "HUGH MERCER."
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Intelligence enclosed in the Last Letter.
" August 12th. Two Shawonese came here from the Meguck, and inform me that the Cherokees has lately sent three speeches to their Nation acquainting them that they intended to make War on the Eng- lish desiring them to assist them in the War, and to send the Speeches to all the Nations to the Sun Setting, inviting them to take up the Hatchet and join with them ; but as their Nation had promised me at the Late Conference, whenever they heard any bad news, to acquaint me with it, before they determined upon any thing, that they were sent to acquaint me with this, and to know how they would have me Act in regard to these Speeches.
" In the Evening, a Delaware Indian informed me that nine In- dians of their Nation, from Venango, had been on the road below Ligonier, and taken an Englishman Prisoner, but that he had made his Escape from them in the Night, the 13th. By two Indians, who arrived here this Morning from Niagara, I have the following Intelligence : That on the Fifth the French made a great Sally from the Fort, that all the Indians they had with them at the Fort deserted them, that the English drove the French back into the Fort, and took Possession of it; that during the Seige, Delinery, who formerly Commanded on this River, was shot through the Thigh and taken Prisoner ; the Officer who Commanded the Fort at Niagara taken ; The Officer who commanded the Troops from Detroit, killed ; the Priest killed, and all the Oficers killed or taken except four, who ran away during the action on the fifth; that the French In- dians often attempted to speak to the Six Nations, but as the Six Nations constantly kept hallooing to them, threatening to put every Indian they found with the French to Death, they were afraid to stay, so that they had no Opportunity of speaking to them for which reason they can give no Account of what Numbers of the English and Six Nations were killed.
" That the French at Presque Isle had sent away all their Stores to Detroit, and was waiting when they came by for the French at Beuf River and Venango to join them, to sett off for Detroit; that in an Indian path leading to Presque Isle to a Delaware Town, they met a Frenchman and some Indians who informed them that the French set off from Venango the Day before, which is six days ago.
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" Seven o'clock in the Evening three Indians came here from Venango and Confirmed the above Intelligence of the English taking Niagara, the fifth, by storm, and say the Indians from over the Lakes are very much displeased with the Six Nations, as they had a number of their People killed at Niagara ; that the French had burnt their Forts at Venango, Beuf River, and Presque Isle, and gone over the Lakes ; that the French at Venango, before they set off, gave the Indians living nigh there, large presents of Goods, laced Coats and Hatts, and told them they were obliged to run away, but that they expected to be in Possession of this River be- fore next Spring; they were obliged to burn every thing they had, and destroy their Battoes, as the Water was so low they could not get up the Creek with them."
Mr. Peters then desired the Governor to appoint a Time to read and settle the Minutes of Council.
MEMORANDUM.
The Thirtieth, seven Members from the House waited on the Governor to acquaint. him that the late Speaker, Mr. Norris, being unable to attend the Public Business thro' Sickness, the House had chose another Speaker, and requested to know when his Honour would be pleased to receive the House, in order to present the Speaker for his approbation.
The Governor was pleased to appoint to-morrow at Twelve o'Clock, in the Council Chamber. . Accordingly the Governor, by the Se- cretary, sent a Message desiring the attendance of the House in the Council Chamber. The whole waited on the Governor and pre- sented Mr. Thomas Leech, their Speaker, and the Governor was pleased to approve their choice.
MEMORANDUM.
September the first, Two Members waited on the Governor with the following Message, and acquainted him that the House had adjourned to the tenth Instant :
A Message to the Governor from the Assembly.
" May it please your Honour :
"After the Explicit answer of the Seventh of July, given by this House, through your Honour, to General Stanwix's application for a Law to enforce the procuring of Carriages, we are Surprized he should renew it without taking the least Notice of our reason for declining such a Measure.
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" The most effectual Mode of procuring Carriages for the Crown we then informed him, and still apprehend, is to order immediate Payment of the Sums due on the Old Contract, the Want whereof must have been a very Considerable Obstruction to that Zeal and Readiness which have been shewn on every Occasion by the People of this Province, to promote the Service of the Crown, and indeed has rendered it impracticable for many, who are willing and desi- rous to fit out Carriages for the Expedition. Besides we are of Opinion the Prices the General Offers for Carriages and Drivers are by no means adequate to the Risque and Service expected from them, and are much inferior to the terms fixed and Established by a Law made for that purpose; this manifestly appears from long Expe- rience, the several Townships which have fitted out Carriages being abliged to give large Bounties for their Waggons and Drivers over and above the Wages offered by the General for that Service, which has been a very great additional Burthen to our present Taxes, and an heavy Contribution on the People.
" We must beg leave to remark to your Honour, that while the General shall continue entirely to disregard the Law already made for the procuring of Carriages, we can have little Encouragement to frame another for that Purpose. We, therefore, request your Honour will be pleased to recommend it to the General to pay off the old Contracts, and to Comply with the said Law, and give the People such a reasonable Price as will enable them to serve the . Crown without Loss, which will be the only method of procuring the Carriages wanted for the present Expedition.
" As to the General's Demand of two Companies of Ship Wrights and Necessary Artificers we cannot agree to it, as the large Supplies we have already granted are nearly expended, and the Province has fully complyed with the Requisitions of the Crown, by the Secretary of State's Letter.
"Signed by order of the House,
"THOMAS LEECH, Speaker.
"September 1st, 1759."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Thursday the 20th of Sep- tember, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esqr., Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Thomas Cadwalader, Esquires.
John Moland,
The Bill Entituled " a Supplement to the Act Entituled 'an Act for the Re-Emitting the Bills of Credit of this Province, heretofore
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re-Emitted on Loan, and for striking the further Sum of Thirty- Six Thousand and Six Hundred and Fifty Pounds, to enable the Trustees to lend Fifty Thousand Pounds to Colonel John Hunter, Agent for the Contractors, with the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury for His Majesty's Ser- vice,' " presented to the Governor yesterday by two Members of the House for his Concurrence, was laid before the Council for their Consideration ; and it appearing on reading the Bill, that on the Death or removal of the Trustees of the Loan Office, there was a Clause Empowering the Assembly to appoint new ones, tho' it was in the Re-Emitting Act, to which it is a Supplement, expressly in the General Assembly, which always means Governor and As- sembly, Two Amendments were made to the Bill to insert the Word Governor in the places where the Assembly only was men- tioned, and sent to the House with the Bill.
" Amendments to the Bill Entituled 'a Supplement to the Act Entituled ' an Act for the Re-Emitting the Bills of Credit of this Province, heretofore Re-Emitted on Loan, and for striking the fur- ther Sum of Thirty-Six Thousand Six Hundred and fifty Pounds to enable the Trustees to lend Fifty thousand Pounds to Colonel John Hunter, Agent for the Contractors, with the Right Honourable the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury for His Majesty's Service.'
"Page 9, Line 11. Instead of the Words [by the Assembly] in- sert the Words [By the General Assembly.]
"Page 10, Line 6. Before the Word [Assembly ] insert the Word [General.]"
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Tuesday the 25th of Septem- ber, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esq", Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Richard Peters,
Thomas Cadwalader, Esquires.
The Governor mentioned that he had received from the House the Supplement to the Re-Emitting Act, with an Answer to his proposed Amendments; and likewise another Bill, Entituled "a Supplement to the Act entituled 'an Act for Establishing Courts of Judicature in this Province,'" both which were read ; but the Coun- cil being thin, and neither of the Gentlemen present who were of the Profession of the Law, being obliged to attend the Supreme Court, the Governor desired the Council might be called this after- noon or to-morning, as it would best suit their Business.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, Wednesday the 26th Septem- ber, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor
Robert Strettell,
Richard Peters,
Lynford Lardner,
Benjamin Chew, Esquires.
John Moland,
The Bill Entituled "a Supplement to the Act Entituled 'an Act for Establishing Courts of Judicature in this Province,'" was read and taken into Consideration, and some Observations were made thereon by Mr. Chew and Mr. Moland. All the Council were against the Bill except Mr. Moland.
The Governor laid before the Council the Assembly's answer to his Amendments to the Bill Entituled " a Supplement to the Re- Emitting Act, &ca.," which is as follows :
"Answer to the Governor's Amendments on the Bill entitled 'a Sup- plement to the Act entitled 'an Act for Re-Emitting the Bills of Credit of this Province heretofore re-Emitted on Loan, &c."
"Amendment Ist. The House unanimously adhere to their Bill.
"Amendment 2d. The House reject the Words [General Assem- bly,] but agree to Substitute in the Room thereof, the Words [by Act of Assembly.]
"Signed by order of the House, " CHARLES MOORE, " Clk. of Assembly.
" September 22d, 1759."
And after Considering thereof, the following reply to their an- swer was made :
" Page 9, Line 11. The Governor adheres to his Amendments.
"Page 10, Line 6. The Governor rejects the Alteration proposed by the House, but will waive his Amendments, provided the Words [until a new Nomination and Appointment of the Trustees of the said General Loan Office be made by the Assembly, any thing in this Act, or any other act of Assembly of this Province to the Con- trary Notwithstanding], in Lines 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, are razed, and instead thereof, the Words [to the End of the then next Ses- sion of Assembly ] inserted.
" Line 6. In the Rider, after the Word [the] insert the Word [General].
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Friday the 28th of Septem- ber, 1759.
PRESENT :
The Honourable WILLIAM DENNY, Esq"., Lieutenant Gover- nor.
Richard Peters, John Moland, Esquires.
The Governor acquainted the Members that the House had sent back the Supplement to the Re-Emitting Act, with a Rejoinder to his Reply, as follows :
" Amendment 1st, Page 9, Line 11. The House unanimously adhere to their Bill.
" Amend. 2d, Page 10, Line 6. The House agree to the Gover- ner's Second Amendment, contained in his first Paper of Amend- ments sent down to the House, upon the said Bill.
" Page 9, Line 11. The House unanimously adhere to their Rider. The Governor did not think it proper to contend any longer with the Assembly about his Amendments."
The Governor laid before the Council Two Bills presented to him yesterday for his Concurrence. One Entituled " An Act for ap- pointing an Agent to Apply for and receive the Distribution, share, and proportion which shall be assigned to this Province, of a sum of Money granted by Parliament to His Majesty's Colonies in Amer- ica."
The other Entituled "an Act to Confirm an Act for directing the Choice of Inspectors in the Counties of Chester, Lancaster, York, Cumberland, Berks, and Northampton."
The Governor proposed an Amendment in the Bill Entituled " a Supplement to the Act Entituled an Act for establishing Courts of Judicature in this Province," namely, that whereas no Courts by the Bill Can be removed if the Sum demanded and recovered be Forty Pounds or under, he thought this too high a Sum, and amended it to Twenty Pounds, which the House agreed to.
The four Bills were sent to the House with a Message by the Secretary that the Governor gave his Assent to them, and would enact them into Laws when presented to him, and the House were desired to have them engrossed by twelve o'clock to morrow, at which time his Honour Would attend in the Council Chamber. Mr. Peters was desired to examine the Bills, when engrossed, with the Originals.
The Governor sent to the House, by the Secretary, a Letter he had received from General Stanwix, dated at Pittsburgh, the 31st Ultimo, sent down by three Mohock Indians, Messengers from Sir William Johnson, giving an account of his Success at Niagara, and recommended to the House, that the said Indians might be kindly treated while in Town, and distinguished with a present on going away.
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The Governor likewise directed the Secretary to lay before the House the following Letter from Major Orndt :
A Letter to Governor Denny from Major Orndt.
" May it please your Honour : " Sir :
" Last Week three Delaware Indians that had been hunting near Tulpihocken stole Six Horses from thence; the persons who lost the Horses fel on the Tracks and followed them to the Fort, and acquainted me of their loss. I immediately inquired what Indians had been hunting thereabouts, and charged them with the theft; they confessed the had Horses, but said that when the People were murdered and their creatures taken away two years since, there was not so much said about it, but now there was a great Noise about a few Horses; and after I had represented to them the Abuse, and that I apprehended it would introduce fresh Troubles, they after some impudent Expressions, promised to return the Horses, but they are gone off without bringing them in.
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