Part 18 (1/2)

[Footnote 9: A Nation of _Indians_ living in _Canada_, who have always been firm friends to the _French_, and formerly were at War with the _Six Nations_.]

[Footnote 10: A Number of _Indians_ originally of the _Five Nations_, and Deserters from them, now settled near _Montreal_, by whom the illicit Trade between _Albany_ and _Montreal_ was carried on: They are well acquainted with the Country about _Albany_.]

[Footnote 11: The _Six Nations_ reckon all other _Indian_ Nations Women, in comparison to themselves.]

At _A L B A N Y_ the Nineteenth of _August_, 1746.

P R E S E N T,

The { Cadwallader Colden, } Esqrs; of his Majesty's Honourable { Philip Livingston, } Council for the Province { John Rutherford, } of _New-York_.

The Commissioners from the Government of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_.

The Commissioners of the Province of _New-York_ for _Indian_ Affairs.

The Mayor and Corporation of _Albany_. The Officers of the Independent Companies, and of the new Levies then at _Albany_. Several Gentlemen of the Province of _New-York_: And Strangers.

_Mr._ Colden _introduced the Speech as follows_:

His Excellency our Governor having been taken ill, and as yet not so well recovered as that he can safely come abroad; has ordered me (being the next Person to him in the Administration) to speak to you in his Name, which I shall do in the same Words which he designed to have spoke, had he not been prevented by Sickness.

”_Brethren_,

”I am glad to see so many of our ancient Friends here, and heartily bid you Welcome. [_Gave three Strings of Wampum_.]

”I have call'd you to this Place for two great Ends, in which the Province of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_ have sent Commissioners to concur with me, who are here present.

”The _First_ is, to renew the Covenant-Chain with you; and I now by this Belt, in your Father the King of _Great-Britain_'s Name, in Behalf of his Majesty's Subjects in _North-America_, renew and confirm the Covenant-Chain, and all former Treaties and Engagements entered into with you. This Chain has from the Beginning, remained so firm and strong, that it has never once broke or slipt since it was first made; and we, on our Parts, shall endeavour that it remain so, unshaken, as long as the Sun and Moon shall endure. [_Gave a Belt_.]

”_Brethren_, Last Fall I told you, that his Majesty's Subjects in this Country had, the Summer before, lain still, without attempting any thing against the _French_ Settlements: But that the _French_ had by Surprize, attacked and destroyed a small Place near _Cape-Breton_, belonging to us.

”That they afterwards laid Siege to _Annapolis-Royal_, and were beat off.

”I likewise told you, That the Governor of the _Ma.s.sachusets-Bay_, in Conjunction with _Connecticut_ and _New-Hamps.h.i.+re_, had, in Revenge to these Injuries, sent an Army against _Louisburg_, on the Island of _Cape-Breton_; that the Army was joined by a Number of his Majesty's s.h.i.+ps of War, under the Command of your Friend Admiral _Warren_.

”I told you, that the Town of _Louisburg_, which is the strongest the _French_ have in _America_, was reduced by this Force; and that the _French_ there had surrendered themselves and their Country to the _English_.

”I likewise told you, how we, in this Part of the Country, had lain still, hoping that the _French_ in _Canada_, would either be quiet, or carry on the War in a manly Manner, and after the Manner of Christians.

And to induce them thereto, a Message had been sent from this Place to the Governor of _Canada_, to tell him, That if he should revive the inhuman Custom of murdering private People, by sculking _Indians_, that the several Governors of his Majesty's Colonies, together with you our Brethren of the _Six Nations_, would join and make Reprisals on them in the like Manner; at which time you publickly declared, that if any of his Majesty's Subjects, in any Part of his Governments, should be killed by any _Indians_, you would immediately join in the War against them, and the _French_.

”And last Fall, when I delivered the Hatchet into your Hands, you told me, and confirm'd it with a Belt, That you would send some of your People (who were then ready) to _Canada_, to demand Satisfaction; and that if Satisfaction was refused, you would use the Hatchet against them, whenever I should order it.

”And you further promised, That if the Enemy should commit any further Hostilities, you would then (upon my Commands) immediately make Use of the Hatchet.

”I need not tell you, how far the _French_ have been from giving Satisfaction; on the contrary, you are well acquainted with the cruel and barbarous Murders that have been committed, since that Time, by the _French Indians_ at _Saraghtoga_, and in the Neighbourhoods of this Place, and on the Frontiers of _New-England_; as you have not hitherto fulfilled your Promises, I suspect that they did not come from your Hearts: I therefore, by this Belt, demand an immediate Performance of your Promises, to shew that they come from the Bottom of your Hearts; as all the Promises I make come from mine, and ever shall. [_Gave a Belt_.]

”_Brethren_, I now come to the _second_ and princ.i.p.al Design of our present Meeting, in which I hope and expect to find you hearty, and united in your Councils and Opinions. [_Gave a Belt_.]

”The King your Father, having been informed of the unmanly Murders committed on the Frontiers of _New England_, and of this Province, is resolved to subdue the Country of _Canada_, and thereby put an End to all the mischievous Designs of the _French_ in these Parts. And for this purpose, he has ordered his Governors of _Virginia, Maryland, Pensylvania_, and _New-Jersey_, to join their Forces to the Forces of this Province, to attack _Canada_ by Land: They are all now upon their March, and you will soon see them here.