French to their Doors. We will beset them so closely, that not a Man in Canada shall dare to step out of doors to cut a stick of wood; But now we gather up our dead to bury them, by this sc'cond Belt.

'Brethren,

'We came from our Castles with Tears in our Eyes, to bemoan the Bloodshed at Schenectady by the perfidious French. While we bury our dead 'murdered at Schenectady we know not what may have befallen our own people, that are in pursuit ' of the enemy, they may be dead; what has be'fallen you may happen to us; and therefore we 'come to bury our Brethren at Schenectady with 'this third Belt.

'Great and sudden is the mischief, as if it had 'fallen from Heaven upon us. Our Forefathers taught us to go with all speed to bemoan and la'ment with our Brethren, when any disaster or mis'fortune happens to any in our chain. Take this Belt ' of vigilance, that you may be more watchful for 'the future. We give our Brethren Eye Water to 'make them sharp sighted, giving a fourth Belt.

'We now come to the House where we usually ' renew the chain; but alas! we find the House, 'polluted with Blood. All the Five Nations have heard of this, and we are come to wipe away the Blood, and clean the House. We come to in'vite Corlear, and every one of you, and Quider (calling to every one of the Principal Men pre'sent by their names) to be revenged of the Ene"my, by this fifth Belt.

'Brethren,

'Be not discouraged, we are strong enough. 'This is the Beginning of your War, and the whole

• House have their Eyes fixed upon you at this time, to observe your behaviour. They wait your motion, and are ready to join in any resolute Measures.

Our Chain is a strong Chain, it is a Silver 'Chain, it can neither rust nor be broken. We, 'as to our parts, are resolute to continue the War. 'We will never desist, so long as a Man of us re'mains. Take Heart, do not pack up and go ' away, this will give Heart to a dastardly Enemy; 'we are of the Race of the Bear, and a Bear you 'know never yields, while one drop of Blood is 'left. We must all be Bears; giving a sixth Belt.

*

'Brethren,

'Be patient, this Disaster is an affliction which ' has fallen from Heaven upon us. The Sun, which 'hath been cloudy, and sent this Disaster, will shine again with its pleasant Beams. Take courage, 'said he, courage, repeating the word several times ' as they gave a seventh Belt.

'Brethren,

(To the English.)

'Three years ago we were engaged in a bloody "War with the French, and you encouraged us to 'proceed in it. Our success answered our Expec'tation; but we were not well begun, when Corlear stopt us from going on. Had you permitted 'us to go on, the French would not now have been able to do us the mischief they have done, we 'would have prevented their Sowing, Planting, or 'Reaping.

'We would have humbled them effectually, but 'now we die. The obstructions you then made

*This was spoke to the English who were about removing from Albany.

6

< now ruin us. Let us after this be steady, and take no such false Measures, for the future, but prosecute the War vigorously. Giving a Beaver 'Skin.

'The Brethren must keep good Watch, and if 'the Enemy come again, send more speedily to us. 'Don't desert Schenectady. The Enemy will glory ' in seeing it desolate. It will give them courage 'that had none before. Fortify the place, it is not 'well fortified now: The Stockadoes are too short; 'the Indians can jump over them. Gave a Beaver • Skin.

'Brethren,

The mischief done at Schenectady cannot be helped now, but for the future, when the Enemy appears any where, let nothing hinder your sending to us by Expresses, and fire great guns, that 'all may be alarmed. We advise you to bring all 'the River Indians under your subjection to live near Albany, to be ready on all occasions.

Send to New-England, tell them what has hap'pened to you. They will undoubtedly awake and lend us their helping hand. It is their interest as much as ours, to push the War to a speedy 'conclusion. Be not discouraged, the French are ' not so numerous as some People talk. If we but 'heartily unite to push on the War, and mind our 'business, the French will soon be subdued.

The Magistrates having returned an answer on the twenty-seventh, to the satisfaction of the Indians, they repeated it all over, Word by Word, to let the Magistrates see how carefully they minded, and then added,

K

Brethren,

We are glad to find you are not discouraged. < The best and wisest Men sometimes make mistakes. Let us now pursue the War vigorously. We have a hundred Men out, they are good Scouts. We expect to meet all the Sachems of the other Nations, as they come to con'dole with you. You need not fear our being ready at the first Notice. Our Ax is always in 'our Hands, but take care that you be timely 'ready. Your Ships, that must do the principal 'Work, are long a fitting out. We do not design 'to go out with a small Company, or in sculking parties; but as soon as the Nations can meet, we shall be ready with our whole force. If you would bring this War to a happy Issue, you must begin soon, before the French can recover the 'Losses they have received from us, and get new vigour and life, therefore send in all haste to New England. Neither you nor we can continue long ' in the condition we are now in, we must order ' matters so, that the French be kept in continual 'fear and alarm at Home; for this is the only way 'to be secure, and in Peace here.

'The Scatikok Indians, in our opinion, are well placed where they are (to the northward of Albany); they are a good Out Guard; they are our 'Children, and we must take care that they do their duty: But you must take care of the Indians below the Town, place them near the Town, so as 'they may be of more service to you.”

APPENDIX, No. III.

Substance of the Speech of Good Peter to Governor Clinton and the Commissioners of Indian Affairs, at Albany, on the occasion referred to in the dis

course.

BROTHER Governor of the State of New-York, and all the other great Chiefs of the State of NewYork, open your ears, and all you Chiefs of the Five Nations here assembled, open your ears.

The business we have now met about is of the greatest importance: How happy must we all be if we can arrange it for our mutual good.

We have this day assembled, and smoked our pipes in peace. That you may know the reason of my addressing you, I would inform you that my brethren, the Cayugas, and my children, the Senecas, requested me to be their mouth on this solemn occasion, and understanding that it is agreeable to the Great Chief of New-York, I now stand here. You will possess your minds in peace, for I have no disposition to oppose you in any respect, but shall move forward in the strait path.

Brother Chief,

In the first place, I would inform you, that last spring we were invited to a treaty at Muskingumwhere your voice also called upon us to attendsome of our nation went there and have not yet returned.

When our uncles, the Chiefs, left our Council fire, their only business at Muskingum, was the establishment of a good peace. This mission was agreeable to us all-even the warriors-for although