them & Prepare us Strongly to repell them, we would wish some Arms & Ammunition was sent to Mr. Lines for our People. Brother, we shall always be ready to join His Majesty's Arms, therefore would like to be Prepared for so doing-the Americans may soon fall on, Witness last War how soon they took Ticonderoga and their Vicinity to Oswego may make them Play the same game again."

I have only time to tell you that a few Indians fell in with a party of Americans between Fort Washington and Hamilton and Brought away forty Scalps, the number of Americans killed is unknown as a party of Horse came up and beat off the Indians, who had only man lost on this occasion.

Since my Letter of the 8th Instant I have the pleasure to acknowledge the Receipt of yours of the 14th, 16th & 20th of April-The Stores at Montreal having neither Guns, Rifles or Vermillion is extremely unfortunate at this very critical period. Vermillion and Tobacco are not yet made good for the last years Requisition and I have been under the necessity of borrowing on that account, all these things are Indispensible and I hope you will be able to make such representations as may authorize the purchase of them at Montreal-where they may be had on moderate Terms.-I feel it my duty also to mention to you the badness of the guns sent to this post-'tis true the Indians take them but 'tis only for the sake of the Lock the barrels are worth nothing and are extremely dangerous from their constant bursting-The Short Rifles which have been sent up for some time are now refused when offered them.

I sincerely hope the Superintendant General will have arrived by the Time this reaches you and that he will endeavour to manage these matters so that in case of a war we may not be in want of the means of carrying it on.

You have inclosed a speech I received a few days ago from the Glaize that containing the latest Intelligence I have of General Wayne's reinforcements and I believe the truth of it may be relied on; The Lake Indians are at length collecting themselves and several small parties have already gone up-The Wyandots I have reason to believe will be here in two or three days, should these nations all join at the Glaize before any General Movement of the American Army-I shall hope His Majesty's Posts in this Quarter may remain in tolerable security. His Excellency Lieut. Governor Simcoe has transmitted to me a copy of the Speech lately made

by the Six Nations at Buffaloe Creek to the American Agent General Chapin; and the Six Nations have also sent Messengers to the Chippawas, Ottawas, Potiwatimies and some other nations, and have returned to them a Belt which was intrusted to the Six Nations last Fall in order to accomplish a Peace on the Terms proposed by them: at the same time these Nations are told that Peace could not be obtained and they are now desired to be strong and act as they think proper for their own Interest.

I am, &c.
A. MCKEE.

P.S. If His Excellency the Commander in Chief on your Application would be pleased to authorise the purchase of a few dozen Gun Locks of the best kind they would be of infinite service to the Indians at this time. We have not now a Carrot of Tobacco left-and I shall be under the necessity of making a Requisition to the Commanding officer to authorise the purchase of what may be immediately wanted.

Joseph Chew Esq.

A. M.

(FROM THE GAZETTE OF THE UNITED STATES, PHILADELPHIA, 30 MAY, 1794).

WHITESTOWN, N.Y. May 14, 1794.

The following may be depended on as fact: some boatmen were proceeding with a boat load of salt and other articles, valued at 60£, from the Onondago salt spring to Niagara. Whilst passing Fort Oswego, a detachment of British forces, stationed at that place seized the boat and cargo, and condemned them as a legal prize. The owner of the property seized obtained information that a boat was dispatched from Niagara some time since to Schenectady on the Mohawk River, by the subjects of his Britannic Majesty, for articles to a considerable amount. Exasperated at his usage at Fort Oswego, he raised a party of men, and proceeded to the Three River Point, where they came across the boat belonging to Niagara on its return with a cargo, valued at upwards of three hundred pounds, which they seized upon as a reprisal of the property taken from them at Fort Oswego.

We hear further that the banks of the rivers to the westward are lined with privateers, in wait for boats bound to Niagara and other British settlements, which they are determined to detain, not only as reprisals, but as violations of the embargo laid upon all vessels in the ports and harbors of the United States.

TRUE COPY OF A LETTER FROM CAPTAIN BRANT TO

CORNPLANTER.

MOHAWK VILLAGE, May 30, 1794.

My dear friend,

I have just received your message of invitation to attend a council at Cataragaras, which I am much obliged to you for, but am exceeding sorry to hear of the loss of our friends the Delawares at Venango. I am much alarmed to hear of the

people of the United States being in possession of Presqu'Isle on Lake Erie. My friend, I have every thing fresh in my mind of our last council at Buffaloe Creek, which was agreed upon that all business of any consequence should be done at that place, in which case I cannot think of deviating from it. I do not think the Great Spirit from above would prosper our proceedings if we should undo what we have already done, except there should be a great change in the present situation of affairs. My friend, I would wish that we should consider seriously, that it is certainly best for us to support what we have done a few days ago at our council fire at Buffaloe Creek, in which case I would wish to meet you with the rest of our friends, the Chiefs, in a few days at the above mentioned place, as we have received a message from our brethren, the western Indians, which requires to be delivered there. The bearer of this will deliver you strings of wampum to confirm what I have already said.

To Captain O'Beal.

From your friend,

Jos. BRANT.

N.B. I shall be at Buffaloe Creek in about four days if the weather permits. (Printed in the New York Daily Gazette, July 1, 1794.)

EXTRACT OF A LETTER FROM GENERAL WILKINS, DATED PITTSBURGH, MAY 30, 1794.

In my letter to Mr. B[iddle], I mentioned the news in the Indian country. Part is confirmed in another quarter, that of the British fortifying at the Rapids of the Miami, and makes me believe all the information the Indian gave me; he had been taught while he was at Sandusky that the English and Americans were at war, and was astonished that we should be at Le Boeuf with so small a force and undisturbed.

The following is an extract of a letter to me from Mr. R. the d. surveyor of the triangle district, dated Cussawago, 21st May, 1794.

"I have been through the Genesee country and find that there is every industry made by the British, that is in their power to put the Indians on us. There was a council held at Buffaloe Creek, eight days ago by them and runners sent to the western Indians to inform them that there was a garrison building at Presqu' Isle." Mr. R. came through the Genesee country by Buffaloe Creek, thence to Presqu' Isle and over to Le Boeuf.

(Printed in the New York Daily Gazette of June 12, 1794.)

FROM R. G. ENGLAND TO J. G. SIMCOE.

DETROIT, June 1st, 1794.

Sir: The address to your Excellency with rules for forming an independent company here which I have the honor herewith to enclose you, were yesterday presented As it interferes with the Militia arrangement I could not give any further encouragement than to inform those gentlemen that presented it that I would

forward it to you. Many of the young gentlemen that have formed the association could be turned to use, as they are active and I believe spirited but I much doubt if they would at any time muster the number that have signed the address.

Their idea of Provincial rank goes perhaps further than you may consider prudent or proper to promise, but short of that their requests seem moderate provided associations are to be encouraged, and found not to injure the Militia, which is here as yet in a very corrupted state. Should it be considered expedient at any time to call out any part of the Militia I would recommend sending Mr. Baby immediately back as without his presence they cannot be at all formed. I have the honor to be, &c.

His Excellency Lieutenant Governor Simcoe.

R. G. ENGLAND.

FROM J. G. SIMCOE TO LORD DORCHESTER.

NAVY HALL, June 2nd, 1794.

My Lord:

I do myself the honor of answering Your Lordship's dispatches No. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. In respect to Your Lordship's communications in No. 7 and that of No. 8, It seems necessary only for me to observe at present, that such parts of them as relate to the more accurate survey of Kingston and the River St. Lawrence shall be carried into execution so soon as Lieut. Bryce shall think fit to state in what order the works at Niagara are in sufficient forwardness to be left under the care of the Officer he shall select for their completion. Mr. Aitkin, the Deputy Surveyor, is directed to obey Lt. Bryce in regard to the survey. I shall desire Mr. Bryce to transmit to me his remarks, when in compliance with Your Lordship's, I shall submit my observations on this important subject. In regard to the Militia, I have given directions for returns to be transmitted for Your Lordship's information. They are totally unarmed. I forward for Your Lordship's information such returns as I have already received, and shall make use of the present meeting of the Legislature to acquaint myself more particularly of their disposition and power in conformity with Your Lordship's wishes. In respect to Your Lordship's dispatch No. 9, I beg to inform you that I have appointed Lieut. Fortier. I shall do myself all I can to regulate a system of defence by Gun Boats for the protection of the Province. The expence of fitting out and arming them must of course be paid by Great Britain; possibly the Legislature may entrust the Executive Government with the power of manning them from the Militia. I also propose a light field artillery to be formed from the Militia. Your Lordship, I presume, will consider among the other deficiencies for the defence of this Province, that of this most essential account. I have received no return whatever from the Marine Department at Kingston relative to any instructions Your Lordship has been pleased to give for the building of Gun Boats &c. I presume those who have the execution of that Branch of the Service think it unnecessary to make any other report than to the Deputy Quarter Master General at Quebec, be that as it may, I shall consult with the Engineer, Lieut. Bryce on the subject of the Gun Boats, and by him transmit such orders as may be necessary, agreeable to Your Lordship's directions.

The Gun Boats in the Chesapeake I well remember; they were well adapted for the purpose of carrying a great many men, as well as the Gun, and in that respect

were suitable for Expeditions. I fear they draw too much water, except for the communications between the Lakes and the River St. Lawrence. There is in the Dockyard at Detroit, sufficient timber for the building of two Gun Boats, exclusive of what is reserved for the twenty Gun ship. I am extremely happy in any mark of Your Lordship's confidence that is shewn to Col. McKee, and in any extension of his power or employment as Deputy Superintendent General. I enclose for Your Lordship's information the report from the Miamis. I respect the former Services of Colonel Butler, and hold in due regard his well founded influence with the Six Nations, but I have too much reason to suppose him incompetent to the direction of the ample means which His Majesty has provided for the management of the Indians, and at present a considerable defalcation appears in the Indian Stores, which upon a more mature enquiry, I shall report to Your Lordship. The People of the States are approaching Presqu' Isle, if they be not already established there, and the present moment seems critical, indeed, in respect to the Indian Interests and the Safety of this Province, as Captain Johnson's journal will sufficiently explain to Your Lordship. Oswego has been for some time surrounded by a lawless Banditti, fomented by Mr. Danforth, and probably by higher authority -Many boats have been plundered, and the King's Subjects forcibly detained by this People.

I transmitted to Mr. Hammond the first authenticated complaint of the kind which came to my knowledge, and I understand that the People who were plundered carried their Complaints to the Governor of New York.

It is universally given out that Oswego is to be attacked; I have removed from thence the Corn and whatever was not useful to the Garrison, but on a report from one of the vessels on the Lake that they heard firing of cannon from that quarter on Thursday last I shall direct Captains Bouchette and Barber to call off that Post, and send Lieut. Brooking, a prudent Officer and five men from this Garrison, to act as circumstances shall direct.

Mr. Williamson, I understand, has threatened to pass by force down the River, and I am told by Mr. Bertzie, the German Agent for Messrs. Pulteneys, &c., &c., who is here to obtain a settlement for the Germans, that the arms now used by the Banditti, of whom I have spoken, were furnished by Williamson. Captn. Schoedde has reported them to be new.

Eighty of the Queen's Rangers are at work at this place, and twenty with Lieut. Pilkington. I have the honor to be, &c.

Rt. Honble. Lord Dorchester.

J. G. SIMCOE.

INFORMATION FROM WILLIAM SULLIVAN.

RAPIDS OF THE MIAMIS, 2d June, 1794.

The Following Information of a Deserter was brought to me this day from the Glaize.

He says his name is Wm Sullivan a native of Ireland, that he has served a year in the American Army and Deserted from Fort Greenville seven or eight days ago. Says that General Wayne's Army is 2000 Effective men, exclusive of 500 in his different Garrisons, that there are about 300 Riflemen in the Army. That 700 of the Kentucky Militia are ready to march under the command of General Scott,

S.C.-18