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Brothers: When at Quebec a few Summers ago you told the Commander in Chief Lord Dorchester "There are people who say the King your Father, when he made peace with the United States gave away your land to them." What was His Lordship's answer? He said, "I cannot think that the Government of the United States would hold that language, it must be from ill informed individuals."

Brothers: The truth of this answer of Lord Dorchester, has been fully confirmed by General Washington the President of the United States and particularly by Colonel Pickering, one of the late Commissioners who duly authorized by him formally addressed the following words to the five Nations. "We claim no Lands but what belong to the Nations who sold to us, we claim not a foot of the Lands of any of the Nations, with whom we have yet held no Treaties."

This clearly shews, Brothers, that what had been told you, is proved to be just and true: The Documents, Records and Treaties between the British Governors in former times, and your wise Forefathers, of which in consequence of your request, authentic copies were transmitted to you all established the Freedom of your Nations.

Brothers: These authentic papers prove that no King of Great Britain ever claimed absolute power or sovereignty over any of your Lands or Territories that were not fairly purchased or bestowed by your Ancestors at public Treaties, they likewise prove that your national independency has been preserved and that the rights resulting from such Independency have been reciprocally and constantly acknowledged at the Treaties between the French formerly possessors of part of this Continent and the Crown of Great Britain; and it will appear when the war in North America arose between the French and the British which terminated in the King your Father's obtaining possession of Canada that it commenced in consequence of the French Nation invading the Stipulations by which the Indian Americans were acknowledged to be Independent.

Brothers: You need scarcely be reminded that after the peace of 1763 The King your Father uniformly followed the just conduct of his predecessors, to prevvent all future encroachments, the Treaty of Fort Stanwix was by his direction made with the several Indian Nations by that wise and good man, your late Superintendant Genl. Sir William Johnson; the boundary there agreed upon, as it was traced with his own hands was forwarded to you, at the Confederated Council at the Miamis Rapids last Summer, with all later Treaties between your Nations and the United States you and they must be best acquainted.

Brothers: You plainly perceive that no interpretation of the boundary line settled between the King your Father and the United States, can have a shadow of pretext to consider your Independency as injured or that your territories were bargained away as the Price of Peace.

Brothers: The Lieutenant Governor directed your Superintendents and officers of your Department as you desired to attend your Council fire at Sandusky and to aid you in whatever matters you should require assistance.

Brothers: With a view to facilitate so desirable a work as that of peace between you and the United States He ordered the officers of the King's Ships to give every assistance to their Commissioners in their passage to and from Sandusky and he afforded them all the convenience in his power to exemplify the sincere and ardent desire he had to contribute to so great a purpose as the general tranquility.

Brothers: I am well assured that the Lieutenant Governor most heartily prays the Almighty Being the common Father of all Mankind to give Wisdom and Union to your Councils and He most fervently hopes that peace may be settled on

such honorable, just and lasting foundations as may be for the common interests, and general benefit of all the people on this Continent.

Given at Buffaloe Creek on the
Ninth day of February 1794.

After the Speech was delivered and Interpreted the Council fire was covered up and the meeting was dissolved; The proceedings were then revised in the presence of General Chapin', Mr. Colt and Mr. Parish, Captain Brant and the officers of the Indian Department the principal part of which I had minuted myself in Council and dictated to Mr. Sheehan the remainder; this proving satisfactory to Mr. Chapin He requested a copy to be taken of all the proceedings which was accordingly done by Mr. Colt except my speech owing to there not being sufficient time to copy it. On my desiring the original and copy to be compared I found a trivial deviation in words only, in part of Mr. Chapin's last Speech.

E. B. LITTLEHALES.

FROM REVEREND DR. JOHN STUART TO THE RIGHT REVEREND DR. WHITE, BISHOP OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, PHILADELPHIA.

Right Revd. Sir,

(Extract)

I have been inexpressibly anxious for the Safety of you & your Family, ever since the News of the fatal Disorder that prevailed in Philada. reached us

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I arrived in this Town a fortnight ago, being ordered to attend our new Bishop, who is not yet come. He is appointed Bishop of Upper & Lower Canada, with the same powers granted to Bp. Inglis, with a Salary of £2000 P. Ann:-'tis said he is a Scholar, Gentleman, Orator & Zealous Churchman. We expect great Things from him; especially, that he will rescue our Church from the Contempt into which it is fallen, by the Prudence & Wisdom of his Counsels & the Splendor of his Example. He is authorized to appoint Commissaries under him, with a Stipend of £150 P. Ann. and has already bestowed that Office (for Upper Canada) upon me.Altho this comes rather late in Life, yet, if I am spared for a few Years, it will enable me to make a decent Provision for my Family.-'Tis said that he will promote Literature by establishing an University here, which is much wanted.

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My Situation now equals my most sanguine Wishes-my whole Salary is £350 Sterlg. per Ann: My Children are all Healthy & promising my Lands, improving in value,-my Situation pleasant & my Congregation numerous and still increasing. I meet with the Countenance & Patronage of my Superiors, & am Chaplain to the Legislative Council of the Upper Province.

Montreal, 8th Feby. 1794.

I am, &c.,

JNO. STUART.

(From a copy in possession of Dr. A. H. Young, Toronto.)

1 Israel Chapin, 1740-95, born at Hatfield, Mass.; served in the Continental army, 1775-8, and attained the rank of brigadier-general, settled at Canandaigua, N.Y, 1789; General Agent for Indian Affairs of the United States, 1791-5. His son, Captain Israel Chapin, succeeded him as Superintendent and Agent for Indian Affairs in the State of New York.

2 Jasper Parrish, 1767-1836, born in Connecticut; a prisoner with the Six Nations, 1778-84; adopted by David Hill; interpreter for the United States, 1790-1803; sub-agent to the Six Nations, 1803-33; died at Canandaigua, N.Y., 12 July, 1836.

FROM LORD DORCHESTER TO THE SEVEN NATIONS OF

LOWER CANADA

Réponse de Son Excellence le Lord Dorchester, aux Sept Villages du Bas Canada venus en députation de la part de toutes les Nations du pays d'en haut excepté les Chaouanous, Miamis et Loups, rendue en Conseil au Chateau de St. Louis à Québec le 10e. Février, 1794.

Mes Enfans:

J'ai bien pesé vos paroles, et me voici préparé à y répondre.

Mes Enfans: Vous m'avez dit que vous êtes les Députés, les sept Villages du bas Canada, au nom de toutes les Nations des pays d'en haut, qui ont envoyé des Députés au Conseil général des Miamis à l'exception des Chaouanous, Miamis et Loups.

Mes Enfans: Vous me rappellez de leur part ce qui s'est passé au Conseil qui fut tenu à Québec peu de jours avant mon dernier départ pour l'Angleterre, quand je leur ai promis de représenter au Roi leur Père leur situation et leurs souhaits; en même tems je leur ai dit que j'espérois les voir bientôt débarrassé de tous les griefs dont ils se plaignoient de la part des Etats Unis, par une paix juste et durable.

Mes Enfans: Je me souviens bien de tout ceci, je me souviens qu'ils m'ont montré, sur une carte, la ligne de séparation qu'ils souhaitoient avoir entre eux et les Etats Unis, et sur laquelle ils consentiroient avec satisfaction à leur faire la paix.

Mes Enfans: Je m'attendois à être instruit de la part des Etats Unis, de ce qu'ils souhaitoient pour eux-même, et que je pusse vous reconcilier ensemble et vous faire bons amis.

Mes Enfans: J'ai attendu longtems, et écouté avec grande attention mais je n'ai pas entendu une seule parole de leur part.

Mes Enfans: J'espérois aussi que la ligne qui fut proposée l'année 1783, pour nous séparer des Etats Unis, et qu'ils ont rompu aussitôt que la paix fut signée, seroit raccommodée, ou qu'une nouvelle ligne seroit faite à l'amicable, mais ceci n'a pas eu lieu.

Mes Enfans: Depuis mon retour je trouve qu'il n'y a plus d'apparance de ligne du tout. De la maniére que les Sujets des Etats Unis, s'avancent, parlent, et agissent de ce coté-ci, aussi bien que de ce que j'apprends de leur conduite sur les bords de la mer, je ne serai pas surpris si nous ayons la guerre avec eux avant la fin de cette année, en quel cas une ligne sera tirée par les guerriers.

Mes Enfans: Vous me demandez un passeport pour aller à la nouvelle York; un passeport est inutile en tems de paix; il vous semble donc que nous serons en guerre avec les Etats Unis avant votre retour; vous aurez un passeport afin que si nous avions la guerre ou non vous soyiez bien recu par les guerriers du Roi.

Mes Enfans: Vous me parlez de vendre vos terres à l'Etat de la Nouvelle York; je vous ai déja dit qu'il n'y à point de ligne entre eux et nous; je ne les reconnoitrerai pas comme propriétaires des terres dont ils se sont emparées depuis l'année 1783; et comme ils ne l'ont pas respectée de leur part; elle ne nous lie pas non plus.

Mes Enfans: Ils ont en même tems détruit leur droit de préemption; je regarde donc toutes leurs approches vers nous depuis ce tems, et tout achat de terres fait par eux, comme un attentat sur les droit du Roi, et quand une ligne sera tirée entre nous, ou en paix ou en guerre, il faudra qu'ils abandonnent tous leurs établissemens de ce coté-ci. Tous ces gens qui n'obtiennent pas la permission de

se faire sujets du roi seront renvoyées; Tout ce qui appartient aux sauvages leur sera en même tems confirmé et garanti.

Mes Enfans: Que puis-je vous dire de plus? Vous êtes témoins que de notre part nous nous sommes comportés envers les Etats Unis de la manière la plus pacifique; nous avons souffert leur langage et leur conduite injurieuse avec patience; mais à cette heure je crois notre patience poussée presque au bout.

Donnez sous ma main au Chateau de St. Louis dans la
Ville de Québec ce Dixième Février 1794.

Par commande de son Excellence,

(Signé) HERMAN W. RYLAND.

(Signé)

DORCHESTER.

(Copie de la Reponse de son Excellence Lord Dorchester aux Sauvages du pays d'en haut; donnée à Québec 10 Fevrier, 1794. Traduit en français par H.W.R.)

FROM LORD DORCHESTER TO THE SEVEN NATIONS OF
LOWER CANADA.

Reply of His Excellency Lord Dorchester to the Indians of the seven villages of Lower Canada as deputies from all the nations who were at the Great Council held at the Miamis in the year 1793, except the Chawanas, Miamis and Loups.

Children:

I have well considered your words and am now prepared to reply. Children: You have informed me that you are deputed by the Seven Villages of Lower Canada, and all the Nations of the Upper Country who sent Deputies to the General Council held at the Miamis, except the Chawanas, Miamis and Loups.

Children: You remind me on your part of what passed at the Council Fire held at Quebec just before my last departure for England, when I promised to represent their Situation & wishes to the King their Father, and expressed my hope that all the Grievances they complained of on the part of the United States would soon be done away by a just & lasting Peace.

Children: I remember all very well: I remember that they pointed out to me the Line of Separation which they wished for between them & the States, and with which they would be satisfied & make Peace.

Children: I was in expectation of hearing from the People of the United States what was required by them; I hoped that I should have been able to bring you together and make you Friends.

Children: I have waited long, & listened with great attention, but I have not heard one word from them.

Children: I flattered myself with the hope that the Line proposed in the year Eighty three, to separate us from the United States, which was immediately broken by themselves as soon as the Peace was signed, would have been mended, or a new one drawn in an amicable manner: here also I have been disappointed.

Children: Since my return, I find no appearance of a Line remains; and from the manner in which the People of the States push on, and act, and talk on this side, and from what I learn of their conduct towards the Sea, I shall not be sur

prized if we are at war with them in the course of the present year; and if so, a Line must then be drawn by the Warriors.

Children: You ask for a Passport to go to New York; a Passport is useless in Peace; it appears therefore, that you expect we shall be at War with the States before you return; You shall have a Passport, that whether Peace or War you may be well received by the King's Warriors.

Children: You talk of Selling your Lands to the State of New York: I have told you, that there is no Line between them and us; I shall acknowledge no Lands to be theirs which have been encroached on by them since the year 1783; they then broke the Peace, and as they kept it not on their part; it doth not bind on ours.

Children: They then destroyed their Right of preemption, therefore all their approaches towards us since that time; and all the Purchases made by them, I consider as an Infringement on the King's Rights; and when a Line is drawn between us, be it in Peace or War, they must lose all their Improvements and Houses on our side of it; those People must all be gone who do not obtain leave to become the King's Subjects: What belongs to the Indians will of course be confirmed & secured to them.

Children: What further can I say to you? You are Witness that on our parts we have acted in the most peaceable manner, and borne the Language and Conduct of the People of the United States with Patience; but I believe our Patience is almost exhausted.

Given under my Hand at the Castle of St. Louis in the
City of Quebec, this Tenth day of February in the year of
Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four.
DORCHESTER.'

By His Excellency's Command
(Signed) Herman Witsius Ryland

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(signed)

In Lord Dorchester's to Mr. Dundas.
No. 18 of the 24 Febry. 1794.

FROM JOHN MCGILL TO J. G. SIMCOE.

The introducing a certain circulating medium of Specie into the Colony would, I conceive, in all transactions with the Settlers, operate to the advantage of the Crown, by reducing the price of Supplies, and at the same time be much more beneficial and satisfactory to the Inhabitants.

It would be a great saving to the Crown, were the Settler's Produce purchased immediately of himself, such as flour, peas, wood, &c., without having recourse to the Merchant or Trader paying for the small quantities in Specie, and for the large, (if found expedient), in Government Bills, as a proof I was lately informed by a very able farmer that supposing flour was sold for 15/ per Cwt. Halifax Currency

1 Lord Dorchester's speech to the Indians on February 10, 1794, was printed in full in the New York Daily Gazette, 25th March, 1794, and in the Gazette of the United States of Philadelphia, of 26th March, 1794. On March 28, the latter newspaper contained the following note:-"From undoubted authority we understand that the late talk Lord Dorchester had with the Indians was conducted in a very secret manner. The matter was not known even in Quebec till some time after the departure of the Indians; when, on their returning to Montreal, they disclosed the matter to a friend, who took a copy of the said talk and from which several copies were made out.-Diary."

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