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given that right to the U. States, it is an affair which concerns you & him & not us. We have never parted with such a power.

BROTHERS;

At our General Council held at the Glaize last Fall, we agreed to meet Commissioners from the U. States, for the purpose of restoring Peace, provided they consented to acknowledge and confirm our boundary line to be the Ohio; and we determined not to meet you until you gave us satisfaction on that point; that is the reason we have never met.

We desire you to consider Brothers, that our only demand, is the peaceable possession of a small part of our once great Country. Look back and view the lands from whence we have been driven to this spot, we can retreat no further, because the country behind hardly affords food for its present inhabitants. And we have therefore resolved, to leave our bones in this small space, to which we are now confined.

BROTHERS;

We shall be persuaded that you mean to do us justice if you agree, that the Ohio, shall remain the boundary line between us, if you will not consent thereto, our meeting will be altogether unnecessary.

This is the great point which we hoped would have been explained, before you left your homes, as our message last Fall was principally directed to obtain that information.

DONE in General Council at the Foot of the Miamis
Rapids the 13th day of August, 1793.

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ENDORSED;-Speech of a General Council to the Commissioners of the U.

States, 13th August, 1793.

FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNITED STATES TO THE CHIEFS & WARRIORS OF THE INDIAN NATIONS ASSEMBLED AT

THE FOOT OF THE RAPIDS OF THE MIAMI RIVER.

BROTHERS;

It is now fifteen days since we delivered our speech to your Deputies at this place, in which we explicitly answered the written question presented by them from you, and gave our reasons why we could not make the Ohio the boundary between you & the United States. We also mentioned some of the heads of the engagements we were willing to make in behalf of the United States. The particulars together with other stipulations for your benefit, we judged it proper to reserve, to be explained to you in full council, when we should meet face to face. BROTHERS;

The next morning your Deputies spoke to us; said they would lay our speech before you, & desired us to wait here for your answer, which we desired & expected might be speedily given.

BROTHERS;

We have waited fourteen days and as yet no answer has arrived. BROTHERS;

It is time to bring the business to a conclusion. The Summer has almost passed away, and we do not even yet know whether we are to have a treaty. BROTHERS;

You know that we came to treat with you of peace. We again tell you that we earnestly desire to make peace, and in the terms of peace we are disposed to do you ample justice. But if no treaty is to be held, if peace is not to be obtained, we desire immediately to know it, that we may go home.

DONE at Captain Elliott's at the Mouth of Detroit
River, the 14th day of August 1793.

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ENDORSED;-Speech of the Commissioners of the U. States, to the Confederate

Indians, 14th August, 1793.

Sir.

FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNITED STATES TO
ALEXANDER MCKEE.

MOUTH OF DETROIT RIVER August 14, 1793.

To the Speech we delivered here to the Deputation of the Indian Nations assembled at the Rapids of the Miamis we expected an early answer. We have waited fourteen days and no answer has arrived. We have therefore dispatched Runners with a Speech to the Chiefs and Warriors, manifesting our wishes to begin the treaty without more delay; and desiring to know immediately their decision on the Subject. A copy of our Speech is inclosed.

We presume it will be in your power to forward the business. Your aid therein will be gratefully acknowledged.

The mode in which the negotiations have hitherto been conducted is new; and is as improper as it is new; all the questions which have been stated, might have been proposed to our faces; and have received prompt answers. We must soon close the negotiation, unless substantial reasons demand procrastination; in that case we may think ourselves Justified in giving further proofs of our patience. We again request your assistance to expedite the business which is the object of our mission, and are, Sir,

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FROM REV. JOHN STUART TO J. G. SIMCOE.

Sir,

It has been intimated to me by the Chief Justice, that your Excellency has been pleased to nominate me as a Magistrate for this District. I have as great a respect for the dignity of that office as any person whatever, and am as sensible of the compliment paid me by that nomination; but I must beg leave to decline the honor intended for many reasons some of which I think it my duty to mention lest my refusal should be attributed to wrong causes.

In the first place I am totally unacquainted with the common forms of Law; consequently it would require more time and attention than I can well spare to qualify me to transact business with propriety in that time. The novelty of the case in this Country would certainly lessen my influence and usefulness as a Clergyman, and this is not a matter of mere opinion for my appointment formerly as first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, gave me an opportunity of knowing the sentiments of people at large on that subject. Besides the plea of necessity then urged, cannot now be more forcible, when there are so many in this neighbourhood better qualified for the office than I am, and indeed to speak candidly I do not feel much disposed to undertake any laborious office to serve a people who have always been, and still remain unwilling to contribute anything towards my support as a Clergyman. For these and other weighty reasons, I must beg leave to decline the honor you intended me; at the same time I am truly sensible of the compliment paid to my understanding and probity.

I have intrusted Mr. Robinson with some papers, which at some interval of leisure are to be submitted to your Excellency's perusal. I have since explained myself fully to him on some other subjects, not so proper to be committed to paper.

From your polite attention and apparent inclination to serve me, I am encouraged to remind you of a memorial I formerly presented on the subject of Matrimonial Licenses, etc. The Answer I received was perfectly satisfactory at that time, but as I am informed that business will be conducted in a regular channel under the operation of an act of the Legislature, I humbly presume that the office of Surrogate for this District would not be incompatible with my clerical profession and would probably add something to my present small annual income. If this appointment is not already bestowed, I flatter myself that my offering myself as

a candidate for it will not be considered as an unseasonable importunity, whether I succeed or not.

I am with great respect,

Your Excellency's Most obedient and very humble servant.

Kingston, August 14th, 1793.

His Excellency Colonel Simcoe, &c., &c., &c.

Sir,

JOHN STUART.1

FROM C. T. A. SCHOEDDE TO E. B. LITTLEHALES.

FORT ONTARIO, 15th August, 1793.

On the 13th inst. arrived here Mr. Ogden and another gentleman with a letter from George Hammond, Esq., recommending the former to my care and attention. He had a hired boat manned by four people, one of which is a black, but he is a free man of Schenectady and is to return with the boat, and his assistance is absolutely necessary, (they inform me), to their conveyance. From these circumstances I have been induced to permit him to pass. I hope however you will be pleased to acquaint me whether negroes under the above description are likewise included in His Excellency's order received on the 7th inst., or whether it extends to slaves. only, or negroes who though free may wish to remain in the country.

I am now under the necessity to inform you that my party after deserters is returned unsuccessfully. The Americans settled at the Falls, taking advantage when the men had entered a house, seized on them, took their arms and declared them prisoners. Ensign Holland who commanded the party was insulted with gross language, and a subscription of three dollars was made and offered to his men in his presence if they would desert.

They were at last, however, suffered to depart. The number of Americans assembled amounted to eighteen or twenty, and they threatened them if ever they returned to send them prisoners to Johnstown.

From these circumstances I hope His Excellency will pardon me for reiterating my request of being completed to the original number of 40 men, at present reduced to 33 (mentioned by mistake 34 in my last) and such a further augmentation as His Excellency shall think proper. I flatter myself likewise that an Indian will be considered as the most proper personage in all future pursuits after deserters.

Amongst my wants and deficiencies I did not mention sentry boxes, concluding that the Engineers would be able to construct them here. As it may be, however, convenient to send them here in a vessel, I beg leave to represent that there is but one in repair and one repairable.

I have the honor to be Sir,

Your most obedient and very humble servant,

Major of Brigade Littlehales.

C. T. A. SCHOEDDE, Lt. 60th, Commanding.

1 Reverend John Stuart, 1740-1811, born at Harrisburg, Pa.; missionary for the Church of England at Fort Hunter in the Province of New York, 1770-7; translated the Gospel of St. Mark and a short history of the Bible into the Mohawk language with the help of Joseph Brant, published in London, 1787; after the beginning of the revolutionary agitation he continued to perform divine service, not omitting the prayers for the King, until his house was attacked, his property plundered, and himself and family publicly insulted; detained a prisoner at Schenectady and Albany, 1777-81; exchanged, 1781; chaplain 2nd Battn., Royal Regt. of New York, 1782-4; missionary at Kingston, 1784-9; Bishop's Official or Commissary in Upper Canada, 1789-1811; D .D. from the University of Pennsylvania, 1799.

FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE UNITED STATES

TO THE CHIEFS & WARRIORS OF THE INDIAN NATIONS ASSEMBLED AT THE FOOT OF THE MIAMIS RAPIDS.

BROTHERS;

We have just received your Answer dated the 13th Inst. to our speech of the 31st of last month, which we delivered to your Deputies at this place. You'say it was interpreted to your nations, and we presume it was fully understood. We therein explicitly declared to you that it was now impossible to make the River Ohio the boundary between your lands & the lands of the United States. Your answer amounts to a declaration that you will agree to no other boundary than the Ohio. The negotiation is therefore at an end.

We sincerely regret that peace is not the result. But knowing the upright & liberal views of the United States, which as far as you gave us opportunity we have explained to you, We trust that impartial judges will not attribute the continuance of the war to them.

DONE at Captain Elliott's at the Mouth of Detroit River, the sixteenth day of August, 1793.

B. LINCOLN

BEVERLY RANDOLPH,
TIMOTHY PICKERING,

Commissioners
of the
United States.

A TRUE COPY.

A. MCKEE. D.A.I.A.

ENDORSED;-Speech of the Commissioners of the United States to the Indians assembled at the Miamis Rapids. 16th August, 1793.

FROM HECKEWELDER'S JOURNAL.

"August 16th. Two young Wyandots arrived from the council, with a written speech to the Commissioners in reply to their former speech delivered on this ground; which address was both impertinent and insolent, being intended to put an end to the treaty business. The language in the speech was such that no person having knowledge of the Indians and their modes of expression, would believe it an Indian speech; but be that now as it may, there were assembled at Miami by this time fifteen hundred warriors, and, anxious for mischief, they threw off the mask. The messengers, having gone off agreeably to Simon Girty's orders after they had delivered their message, the Commissioners sent after them, desiring them to take an answer back to the council, which they agreed to. We saw quite plainly that the Indians were not allowed to act freely and independently, but under the influence of evil advisers; wherefore this speech was to convince them of the pains the United States had taken to bring about a peace with them; and that as they had slighted this golden opportunity and been inattentive to their own welfare and disappointed the United States, they must abide by the consequence, and blame themselves and their advisers alone if the result should be disastrous."

(From Rondthaler's life of Heckewelder, pp. 134-5, quoted by C. W. Butterfield, History of the Girtys, pp. 279-80.)

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