USA > Pennsylvania > Colonial records of Pennsylvania, Vol. VIII > Part 47
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" Page 40, Line 9. After the word [Being] insert the words [and not otherwise].
"Page 41, Line 9. After the word [orders] insert [with the ap- probation of the Governor and Cammander-in-Chief of this province, for the time being, signified by his countersigning such orders].
" Page 44, Line 5. Dele the word [certify] and instead thereof, insert the words [by their Certificate in writing].
" Same page, Line 6. After the word [them ] insert the words [countersigned by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this province, for the time being].
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"Same page, antepenult Line. After the word [Draughts] insert [to be also countersigned by the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this province, for the time being]."
19th March, 1760.
The Secretary acquainted the Governor that he had waited yes- terday & to day for the meeting of a Quorum of the Assembly, in order to deliver the Bill for granting to his majesty the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds with the amendments agreed to at the last council, but was informed that the Speaker was indisposed, & the same day two members of the House waited on the Governor, & informed him that a Quorum of the members were met, but the speaker being prevented by indisposition from coming, they were inclined, if his Honour should think no Inconvenience could arise to the Publick from it, to adjourn to Munday, the 31st Instant, to which the Governor made answer that he would not chuse to incur any censure from a delay of publick Business by agreeing to so long an adjournment, but that he would concur with the members, if they thought proper to adjourn themselves to munday next, the 24th Instant.
March 25th, 1760.
The Secretary deliver'd to the House the bill for granting to his Majesty the sum of One Hundred Thousand Pounds, &cª,, with paper of amendments, as agreed to on the 18th Instant.
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At a Council held at Philadelphia, Saturday the 29th March, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
William Logan, Richard Peters, 0 Esquires. Benjamin Chew, $
Lynford Lardner,
Indians present :
Teedyuscung, the Delaware Chief,
Moses Tattamy.
Frederick Post, Moses Tattamy, S Interpreters.
The Governor informed the Council that Teedyuscung was in Town, and by Fred'k Post, his interpreter, had acquainted him he
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had a Great many things to say to the Governor of a publick nature, & desired the assembly might be present when he spoke ; whereupon the Governor having been told before hand the substance of what he had to say, sent the secretary with a verbal message to the House informing them of this, and desiring their attendance, with the . speaker, in the Council chamber, who accordingly came, &, on their taking their seats, Teedyuscung spoke as follows : " Brother :
" I received a Message from you by Frederick Post, who took me by the Hand and brought me here, and I am now standing ready before the Governor to confer within on the subject of his Message." " Brother :
"I always desire that when I speak I may be well understood, and if in the delivery of what I speak I should, thro' my want of proper expression, commit any mistake, I desire it may be taken notice of, and forthwith set right, that no harm may accrue thereby to our children and Grand children."
A String.
" Brother :
" I request of you and all present to give serious attention to what I am going to say.
"You know that our hands are fast joined together, and we are entered into close Alliance and Friendship with each other, and that we have agreed if any accident should happen which might tend to a breach of our Union, we should use our speediest and best en- deavours to prevent it.
" Brother :
" Since we saw one another last, something has happened whereby our union is struck and wounded. There lye some dead bodies be- tween us, uncovered on the ground, which fill our hearts with Grief and our Eyes with Tears, so that we can neither see nor speak to . one another until they be put out of our sight.
" Brother :
" I am poor and you are able, but poor as I am I will neverthe- less put forth all my strength to cover these dead Bodies, that no mischief may arise from their lying too long uncovered. In this I call upon you to help me, as you are more able than I am. Let us, I say, both join heartily and speedily to cover these dead Bodies, that neither the Neighbouring Indians nor those who live at a dis .. ance may take offence at them, but be satisfied that we have done right, and everything that such an occasion requires."
A String.
Then, after some pause, taking a string of Wampum, he proceeded saying :
" Brother :
" I received this string from Atsuntsing, with a message from the Indians residing there, acquainting me that they and all the other
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Indians on the river Sasquuhannah are determined to observe what their Brethren, the English, requested of them, and desired I would assure you of their Friendship towards you, and that they would be watchful and take a special care that no more mischief be done, nor more Horses carried off."
A String.
Then taking another String of Wampum, he spoke further :
" Brother :
" I received this string from the Mohiccon and Oping Indians,. with a message to desire I would let their Brethren, the English, know that they had heard of the peace which you and I had made together, and were heartily glad to hear of it, and would do their best to promote the good work & join with me in everything that I should agree upon with our Brethren, the English."
A String.
" Brother :
" When I speak to my Brethren, I speak from my heart, & with sincerity, and whilst I do so, the Great God who made us will bless me; I expect you will act the same part by me, & then the Great God will bless you likewise. Whoever of us should act a part con -. trary to this, will certainly be discovered, and looked upon as the Author of the Breach, and answerable for all the evils that it will occasion. Let us, therefore, on both sides take care to be very sin- cere to each other, that the Great God may bless both of us, and what we do may be well established, and prove very lasting."
A String.
Then taking out a Belt of nine rows of Wampum, which was. about Two feet long, on which a Road was described as passing, thro' twelve Towns, he spoke further :
" Brother :
" I received this Belt from all the Warriors and young Men who live on the Sasquehannah River, with a message, pressing me to be Strong, and telling me they would reach out their hands-and. lift; me on my legs, to help me along, and that they were sitting & wait -- ing for me, and desired I would be with them in Six Weeks, and! they would collect themselves together from all their Towns, and meet at atsunsing, and there hold a Council before my going to the great Council over the River Ohio. These Young Warriors further desired me to let all the Indians know wherever I come, that they were determined to sit still and strictly observe the peace and Friendship entered into with the English, and would do no more mischief, and they desired of all the Indians in the several places through which I should pass, that they would act the same part. Now, Brother, I desire that since these Warriors have promised to
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help me on, you would likewise do the same, and be strong, and make me able to perform this great Journey.
" Brother :
" I desire Frederick Post may not go single, but that I may take another white man with me, as well as he, and then, if any thing happens to him, the other, who will be acquainted with every part of our Business, may assist me to carry it on. If you will deliver these to me I will put them in my Bosom; I will cover them from all harm, and see them safe returned. I have, also, desired moses 'Fattamy may be one of these Indians who are to accompany me. " Brother :
"There are two or three old men here who are to accompany me ; as they are not able to travell on foot such a great way, I expect you will provide them and me with Horses and other necessaries ; and as I shall have a great [many] messages to send, and a great many speeches to make, I expect you will provide me with a suffi- cient quantity of Wampum."
Some black Strouds, Handkerchiefs, and Stockings, having been provided, the Governor ordered them to be spread upon the floor, and then spoke as follows :
"Brother Teedyuscung :
"I mean to answer only that part of your speech which relates to the dead Bodies ; the rest will be answered at another time.
" Brother :
" It pleases me that you have taken the trouble to come down so quickly, and join your endeavors with mine in Clearing the ground from the Blood, and burying the Bones in utter Oblivion.
" As soon as we were made acquainted with what had happened, we took all the pains in our power to find out the authors ; The Assembly joined with me in offering a very large Reward; the pro- clamation sent you was instantly published & dispersed in every part of the province, & the Sheriffs & magistrates were every where industrous to find it out. Hitherto we have not been able to make a discovery ; but you may be assured that we shall continue to use our utmost endeavors, & if the authors are detected & found Guilty, they shall suffer death in the Same manner as if they had killed one of our own people.
" Brother :
" According to your advice I am now going on the part of this Government, and all his majestie's Subjects, to join with you in removing these and all other dead Bodies that lye on the Earth between us uncovered, out of our sight. I put my hand to yours and bury them all deep in the Ground, that it should not be in any one's power to dig them up again and expose them to view. In confirmation whereof, I give you this String.
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
" Brother :
"I wipe the Tears from your Eyes and remove all Grief from your heart, and enable you to speak again. Let us now think no' more of what has passed. Let it be buried in Oblivion forever."
A String.
" Brother :
" I desire you will repeat what I have now said to the Indians present, Some of whom, I understand, you intend to take with you, that they may be well informed of all these particulars, and I desire that both you and they will be careful to make them known in all places wherever you come, especially at the great Council where you are going to attend at their pressing invitation."
Teedyuscung turned himself to the Indians, & with a very par- ticular warmth, repeated all that had passed, & desired them to take notice of it & to be witnesses at the ensuing council of the care taken by the Governor & him to bury the dead Bodies, and of what his Honour had mentioned with respect to the pains taken & the rewards offered for the discovery of the murderers.
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday, the third April, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esquire, Lieutenant Governor.
William Logan,
Richard Peters, Esquires.
Joseph Fox,
Provincial Commissioners.
Jno. Hughes,
Teedyuscung & the Indians.
Moses Tattamy,
Frederick Post, Interpreters.
The Governor having sent to the Assembly the draught of his answer he proposed to make to Teedyuscung, and a Present of Goods having been provided by the Provincial Commissioners, he ordered the Interpreters to acquaint Teedyuscung that he was going to give him an answer to the remainder of his speeches delivered on Saturday, and then spoke as follows :
" Brother :
"I am glad to hear of the good dispositions of the Indians at Atsunsing and in all other Towns on the Sasquehannah, & espe- cially with the determination of the young Warriors to observe the peace.
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" Brother :
" You are extreamly well acquainted with the particulars of all the Transactions that have passed as well as of all the Treaties that have been held between us, and as you are our agent and Couni- cellor, by this Belt I enable you to speak for us on all Occasions, make known our good disposition and love towards all the Indians wherever you go; Hide nothing from them ; spread the knowledge of what We have been doing far & wide, and dispose them, as you shall have an opportunity of conversing with them, to enter into the peace, and join heartily with us to settle every thing on the most lasting foundation."
A String.
" Brother :
"I am very Sensible that the Business you are engaged in is of the greatest importance, and in transacting it you will be obliged to make many Speeches, and to send many Messages to different In- dian Towns, which can't be done without a great Quantity of Wam- pum. I have, therefore, put into your Council Bag, as much Wam- pum as we hope will enable you to discharge every part of your duty."
Here gave the Wampum.
" Brother :
"Your requesting another person to accompany you, besides Mr. Post, convinces me that you have the business you are engaged in, much at heart. I heartily concur with you in this measure, and shall appoint another, who shall be agreeable to you both; and as the journey will be long, I have, as you requested, provided you with Horses, and all necessaries for the Journey, of which the Pro- vincial commissioners have my Orders to deliver you.
" Brother :
"I put Mr. Post, and the other Assistant, into your care & pro- tection ; Take them with you wherever you go, to bring them safe back again, and I hope you will consult with Mr. Post on all occa- sions, and make him fully acquainted with every thing that shall pass."
A String.
" Brother :
"There is one point I think incumbent on me to mention par- ticularly to you, and to insist in behalf of all his majestie's Sub- jects within this province, that you spare no pains to see it speedily and effectually complyed with.
" You cannot but remember it was solemnly stipulated by you in all our Treaties, that our Flesh and Blood who have been carried into Captivity, should be very carefully collected and delivered to us. We are sensible of the kind part you have taken in this affair,
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PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.
and thank you for it; But we are obliged, with Grief, to take no- tice that the prisoners brought to us are very few, in comparison with the Great numbers who remain still in captivity. By this Belt, therefore, we earnestly desire of you to make this known to all Indians wherever you shall go, and to use your endeavors that all the English prisoners be collected and delivered to us, otherwise We cannot think the professions made to us of peace and Friend- ship can be sincere."
A Belt.
Teedyuscung returned the Governor thanks for his kind speeches, acknowledged his Satisfaction at the great trust that was reposed in him, and promised that he would do everything that should be in his power, and prayed almighty God to assist him; he added that if he returned safe home he would continue to do everything he could for the service of his Brethren.
The Governor thanked Teedyuscung, and at taking his leave he said to the Governor :
" Brother :
"You have really covered the dead. I will make it known wherever I go. I will do with all the nations I shall see as you have done with me, and send you their Approbation and hearty con- currence with you and me in this Affair."
The Secretary having prepared the draught of a set of Instruc- tions to Mr. Frederick Post, the same were read and settled, and are as follows :
" Instructions to Mr. Frederick Post, assigned at Teedyuscung's request to accompany and assist him in his Journey to a, Great council of Indians proposed to be held at some principal Indian Town over the Ohio.
" You are to take all the care in your power, that Teedyuscung sets out time enough to be present at the opening of the Council, and that he takes with him the Wampum given him to use on this Occasion, and if more be wanting and can be purchased, you have liberty to supply him out of the money you will receive from the Provincial Commissioners, or if that cannot be spared, you may as- sure such as will part with Wampum, it shall be replaced or paid for by me.
" Copies of all the Treaties and Conferences with Teedyuscung, and other Indians, down to this time, are made out, and will be delivered you together with these Instructions, that you may be able to remind Teedyuscung of every material thing that has been transacted, and I expect you will pay a particular attention to this important part of your service.
"I approve of the detail of Affairs made by you in your last Journey over the Ohio, and would have the same again distinctly
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repeated at this great Council, together with what has been done since, for the benefit of such distant Indians as may never have the like opportunities of hearing a true relation of these matters.
"You are to observe and perform all the ceremonies expected by and in use among Indians, from persons when they spake on pub- lick matters, and enforce all your speeches with proper Belts or Strings of Wampum.
" You are to assure the Indians of our sincere disposition towards peace, and that we shall do our utmost Endeavors not only to re- new and strengthen our friendship and Alliances, but to settle every- thing to their Satisfaction that is likely to occasion differences, and shall observe and promote such a friendly, affectionate and brotherly Confidence as will preserve a mutual and lasting Esteem and Regard for each other.
" You are to acquaint the Indians in the name of the General and Commander-in-Chief of all his majestie's forces in North Ame- rica, that, according to the request of the Indians in their message by Pisquitomeng, which was received during the last treaty at Easton, His Majesty King George has been truly informed of all The transactions between the Indians & his majesty's subjects, and our Gracious King, as a tender Father over all his children, was much pleased to hear of your good disposition, & has given orders to his Generals & Governors, that agreeable to your request, there should be a General Peace established between the Indians and his subjects in every colony on a Good and firm foundation, and they Will all endeavour with zeal to promote this good work.
" You are further, in the General's name, to relate what passed in the Conferences between the Generals, the Governors of this and the neighbouring provinces and the Indians' Deputies from Cagh- nawago, in April, 1759, agreeable to the minutes of which you have a Copy, and assure the Indians that His excelency will faithfully per- form what he then promised, and expects the same from them ; you are, if you arrive safe at the Council, to express high satisfaction in finding the road from this province to their Towns perfectly safe and easy to be travelled in, and you are to take care in the strong- est manner to assure the Indians that the road from their Country to this City is entirely open and safe for them to travel in, as they have been repeatedly invited by this Government in conjunction with Teedyuscung, to come to this City, where the Old Council Fire was first kindled, and Till of late was constantly burning, you will learn what their intentions are, and, if necessary, you will ad- vise Teedyuscung to invite them once more in our joint names to come to to this Council Fire, and if they agree to it, then you will proceed to fix the number of Deputies and the time of their coming, that we may lay in sufficient Provisions and be prepared to receive them.
"You are sensible, as Indians cannot be kept from drink, it would be both troublesome and dangerous to their health to have
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great numbers come down to the Treaty, it is to be wished there- fore, and you are to endeavour to bring it about, that a certain re- spectable number of their principal Men as well as Warriors as Members of their Councils may be deputed to appear and act for the whole Body, and that all such Indians as apprehend themselves injured in their Lands or any ways concerned in the Complaints made at Easton, may come down with the Deputies, and furnished with full powers for that purpose.
" This is a tender point, and will require Skill & Prudence ; but for the above, and many other reasons that will occur to you, it should be pressed as far as you can venture to do it.
"The Indian chiefs have often heretofore, and Teedyuscung'at his last Conference, earnestly desired that a Stop might be put to the sending such excessive Quantitys of Rum Into the Indian Country, and that at Treaties especially particular care might be taken to prevent Indians getting it.
" You will occasionally acquaint the Indians, if this matter be mentioned, that we have many Good Laws for the regulation of this anatter, which will ever prove insufficient whilst the Indians them- selves give such encouragement to this Vice, and by means of their own people carry on such underhand practices for the purchase of Rum, as render it impossible for us to detect the Offenders; the Chiefs must, if they really mean to preserve their health and do publick Business in a right manner, lay proper restraints on their own people, and stave every cask that is brought into their Coun- try ; this is in their power, and till this be done on their part, all our care will prove ineffectual.
" You are to recollect every thing that has been said from time' to time with respect to the Surrender of all our Prisoners, and to take care to find out what number of our fellow subjects have been carried into captivity, their Names, Ages, whence taken, where they are now to be found, and how they are treated by the Indians; & Learn every circumstance relating to them, and the real disposi- tion of the Indians as to the delivery of them.
"As the Captives become private properties, and are often adopted into Families in the room of deceased Relations, I am sen- sible that great art will be used in keeping back many of our Cap- tives, & perhaps some of them would not be willing to come, and therefore earnestly recommend it to you to find out with Teedyus- cung the properest way of removing all these difficulties, so that this which we have so much at heart may be effectually performed.
" Lastly : You will give the Indians every where the strongest assurances that no person shall be permitted to make Settlements; on their land, or any where to the Westward of the Allegheny Mountains ; acquaint them that a Law has already passed in this Government forbidding our inhabitants from hunting or killing Game in any of their hunting Grounds, under severe penalties ; and' that the General will be told of this, and desired to give it in charge: to :all the Officers and Soldiers to see this Law put in execution.
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" This they will consider as a very strong testimony of our faithful observance of our promises to the Indians on this head.
" I heartily recommend you to the care of devine providence, praying that he may afford you Strength and health to perform this great and important Trust."
At a Council held at Philadelphia, on Thursday the 3d April, 1760.
PRESENT :
The Honourable JAMES HAMILTON, Esq", Lieutenant Gov- ernor.
William Logan,
Richard Peters, 3 Esquires.
Lynford Lardner, Benjamin Chew, S
A Representation from Mr. Peters and Mr. Hockley, complain- ing of injuries done to the Proprietaries in their taxation for the County of Cumberland, was read in these words :
" To the Honourable James Hamilton, Esquire, Lieutenant Gov- ernor, & Commander-in- Chief of the province of Pennsylvania, and Counties of Newcastle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware,
" The Representation of Richard Hockley, Esquire, Proprietary Receiver General, and Richard Peters, Esquire, Proprietary Secretary :
" We beg leave to lay before you an Account of our Proceedings in relation to the Proprietary Tax for the County of Cumberland.
"On the 20th of January, We received from Colonel Armstrong the first account of that Tax, and by Letter he acquainted us that the Commissioners and Assessors had deliver'd it to him to be trans- mitted to the Proprietaries' Agents, that they might, if they pleased, appeal thereto, and We, apprehending it to be very exorbitant and unreasonable, desired an Appeal on behalf of the Proprietaries, which was Granted, and on the sixth and seventh days of February, We had a meeting with the Commissioners and Assessors at. Carlisle.
" We first desired them to shew us the several Township Asses- sor's Returns, and to let us know the Commissioner's mode of cal- culating the general Articles, Which they did, and we found that they had put a Quit rent of One-half penny sterling pr. acre upon the whole quantity of Land returned by the Township Assessors, as belonging to the Inhabitants, amounting to 171,315 Acres, and then charged the Total of that Quit Rent, with a Tax of Six Shil- lings pr- Pound, for Five Years back.
" Of these lands 34,943 Acres only were set down as Patented, and the remainder, amounting to 136,372 Acres, being held or pos- sessed by the people without patents, was estimated at Fifteen pounds Ten Shillings p". Hundred Acres.
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