hundred if not two thousand men, and in my opinion these different Nations are now upon

' Numbers. Pennsylvania Colonial Record*, V., 46:).

' and muet draw tlie Attention of his Majesties Governors into those more remote ports Ihtd. — En.
Vol. VI. 7-5



594 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

the Ballaiice. If a prudent management and seasonable Liberality be exercised tliey may be
retained in our Interest. But if no notice be taken of them nor suitable presents made them,
the Frencli may justly reproach the Twightwees for their Defection, and they will cast these
Reproaches on our Indians who perswaded them into our Alliance, and thereupon they may
not only leave us themselves, but draw off" our Indians with them, and if we should fall into
these unhappy circumstances tis not probable we shall retain the Six Nations at Onondago
long, for when these are strip'd of their allies, and of these Western Indians they will be
despised, or to avoid contempt, go over to the French with the other Indians

This I take to be a true Representation of the State of Indian Affairs and gives me much
concern that the Council at Onondago should not be able to retain their People among them,
but by suffering their young Indians to go and settle in those distant parts, give rise to a new
Interest that in a little time must give them Law instead of taking it from them; but the thing
is too plain to be concealed and therefore His INIajestys Governors will do well to consider
what is proper to be done on this new Turn of affairs

This Province has cheerfully been at a very considerable expence to preserve these Indians,
and was it in Ability, might continue to do so: but they grow too numerous for any single
Colony, it is therefore become expedient that this matter should be fully set forth, and as I
have taken the Freedom to place it in what appears to me [to be] the true light to your
Excellency I have likewise done the same to the Governors of Virginia and Maryland in hopes
that some thing may be done to frustrate the effects of the indefatigable pains the French are
taking in that Quarter

If your Excellency shall think proper to make any Answer to the inclosed Messages on your
Transmitting it home I'll take care to send it by the first opportunity to our Interpreter at Ohio
I am with all possible regard
Sir

Your most obedient

& most humble Servant

Philadelphia 20 Sep 1750 (sg"") James Hamilton

New York

a true Copy Ex"^ P.

Gw Banyar Sec^



Message of Miamis and Hwvons to the Governor of Pennsylvania.

[ New-Pork Papers, Hh., No. 121. ]

Copy of a Message delivered by Andrew Montour Indian Interpreter at Ohio, to
the Governor of Peusylvania

May it please the Governor

The Twightwees who were admitted into the Alliance of the English in a Treaty held at
Lancaster two or three years ago sent their Deputys to AUegheney last Winter, with a Message



LONDON D(X;TTMENTS : XXIX. 595

addressed to the six Nations, and oilier Indians living on Ohio and to the several English
Provinces accompanied with this string of Wampum

The Message delivered by the Deputys of the Twightwees was as follows

Brethren of the Six Nations and all the English living on Ohio, and all the English Governors
" We the Twightwees who are now one with you desire that the Road, which has lately
been open between us, being a new one, and therefore rough blind and not well cleared may
now be made plain, and that every thing which may hinder the Passage may be removed out
of it, so effectually as not to leave the least obstruction, and we desire this may be done, not
only as far as where you live, but beyond you to the places where our brethren the English
live, that there Traders whom we desire to see amongst us, and to deal with us for the future,
may travel to us securely & with Ease

" Brethren

We are yet young and unexperienced, you the six Nations are our elder brothers, and can
advise us what to do on all occasions. We therefore put ourselves under your care, and
request that you will look upon us children, and assist us with your Council, and we promise
to follow whatever advice you give us; for we are sensible that it will be for our Good. Our
Father Onontio has kept us poor & blind, but thro' your means we begin to open our eyes and
to see things at a great distance. We assure you by this String of Wampum, that we the
Twightwees, have entirely laid Onontio aside, and will no more be governed by his advice nor
any longer hearken to what he shall say

This is our settled Determination, and we give you the strongest Assurances that we shall
abide by it, and of this we desire you will inform the Six Nations Indians at Onondago and all
the Indians who are in their and your alliance and likewise the Governor of Pensilvania and the
other English Governors"

Sir

I have it further in charge to relate to you the answer which the six Nation Indians at Ohio,
gave to this Message of the Twightwees

Brethren the Twightwees

Harken to what we say and consider our answer as the joint answer of all the Nations of
the Indians living in these Parts, of our Fathers the Six Nations living at Onondago and of the
English Governors all of whom we include in this answer

Brethren of the Twightwee Nations

" You have by your Deputies desired of us, that we would open the new Road between
" us and you wide and take out of it every thing that can possibly hinder our Travelling safely
" and pleasantly to one an other, and that the English Trader may come more amongst you.
" And further that you have henceforth put yourselves under our care and desire we will assist
" you with our Council and that you have entirely laid aside Onontio, and will be no more
*' governed by his Councils"

" We declare ourselves well pleased with every part of Your Message and will heartily join
"with you in making the Road perfectly clear and free from all impediments We will take
"you under our care, and assist you on all occasions in the best manner We trust your
"Determinations are made with the utmost seriousness and Deliberation, and that you will
" adhere to what you say — The English & We are firmly united together. We are all one



596 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

" people and our hands joined so togetlier, that nothing can separate them You have joined
" hands with them & us tis true, but yours are yet like the hands of Infants, they can not take
" hold of the chain of Friendship with so much strength as those of riper years; but we advise
" you to take as strong an hold of it as ever you can and to form an union that nothing can
" break through — If any Tree should fall & block up the Road between us, be sure let us all
" put our hands to it, and unitedly & amicably, like Brethren, throw it out of the Road — Dont
" let us act single on any occasion, but altogether, and then shall we have the more strength"

Sir

I am further ordered to tell you that a Message arrived from the Twightwees just before I left
Allegheney to acknowledge that they had received the Ohio answer, and returned thanks, and
gave further Assurances that they would continue true to their new Engagements & expected
to receive the Answer of the English Governors by the first Trader that should come into their
parts in the Fall

S'-

I have finished what was given me in charge with respect to the Twightwees, but I have
still something to communicate to the Governor of Pensilvania and all the other Governors on
the Continent, which was communicated to me by the Owendaets (otherwise called the
lonontady-Hnga Indians) in conjunction with the other Indians settled on Ohio, be pleased
tiierefore to receive a message sent by the owendaets and the other Indians.

Brethren the Governors of Pensilvania and New York

When you were at War with Onontio, we were perswaded by Corlaer to strike the French,
you have since made peace with Onontio, and we expected that we were included in that
Treaty, but we dont find it so, for the French are always threatning us, and have put us into
so much fear by their menaces, that we dare not suffer our People to go to the hunting places
at a distance from us lest we should meet a party of French, This was the case all last summer,
and we have received Intelligence from the Six Nations, that the French in Canada are
now making Military Preperations, and intend to attack us this summer. Brethren you ought
to have included us in your Peace, but since you did not, we now request that the English
Governors would jointly apply to have us included in the Peace, that we may not be subject
to their intimidations and Resentment of the French but be in quiet as well as you
Here he finished and gave a String of Wampum —

N B The Owendaets' lived on the other side of Lake Erie before the Commencem' of the
War: but left their Settlements and came on this side the Lake, and committed Hostilities
against the French & dare not return to their Towns but remain with the other Indians on Ohio

The above is a true Copy of an Indian Message delivered by M' Andrew Montour
Indian Interpreter at Ohio, & entered into the Council Books exam** by me &
Certified this 20 Sep 1750

RicHAKD Peters
New York a true Copy Secy of Pensylvania

Examined by

Gw Banvar D Secry

' Hurons. — Ed.



LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXIX. 597

Lords of Trade to the Duke of Bedford.

[New-York Entries, B. IV., p. 85. ]

To His Grace the Duke of Bedford, one of His Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.

My Lord.

Having lately received a letter from M' Clinton His Maj''''' Gov' of the Province of New
York, dated the 30"" of July last, containing amongst other things an account of the difficulty
he meets with in the Administration of Govern' and the unhappy state of that Province, we
think it our duty to transmit to your Grace the inclosed extract thereof.

Your Grace will observe from this letter that the late Assembly of that province has refused
to grant any money either to the support of a garrison at Oswego which has been for twelve
months maintained upon M"' Clinton's private credit or for making the usual and expected
presents to the Five Nations at the conclusion of peace.

The consequences which may attend the want of a garrison at the important post of
Oswego, as well as the neglecting to make the accustomed presents to the Five Nations
of Indians are fully set forth in M'' Clinton's letter, and have been also represented by us to your
Grace in our letter of the 25"' of July last; we have reason to apprehend that this neglect of
the Five Nations may prove the more fatal, particularly at this time, from the account contained
in the inclosed copy of a letter from Coll: Johnson to M' Clinton, which we have lately
received from the president of the Council of Virginia of the unjustifiable attempts of the
French to disturb the Peace in America, by stirring up the Indians in their interest to destroy
several Nations on the Ohio in Alliance with us, which, should they effect, Coll Johnson
apprehends the five Nations must also submit to them. We are. My Lord,

Your Grace's

most obedient and most humble serv's
* Dunk Halifax

Whitehall. Dupplin

Ocf the 12"' 1750. Charles Townsend.



Lords of Trade to Governor Clinton.

[ New-Tork Enlries B. N., p. 88. ]

To the Hon*"'" George Clinton Esq'' Gov"" of New York

Sir,

Since our letter to you dated the 1" of Sepf we have received your's of the SO"" of July last,
and have laid an extract of so much of it, as relates to the difficulties you are under in the
Administration of Govern' and the State of your Province, before the Duke of Bedford,
together with a copy of a letter from Coll : Johnson to you concerning the unjustifiable attempts
of the B'rench amongst the Indians which we have lately received from the President of the
Council of Virginia.



598 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

We are well pleased to find you have given orders to the proper Officers, to search for the
papers we directed, and we hope, you will take care that they are diligent in their inquiries,
that those papers may be transmitted to us as soon as possible.

We are now met after our usual recess & shall take the State of affairs in your Govern' into
immediate consideration, and lose no time in preparing a Representation thereupon — So we
bid you heartily farewell, and are ettc: —

Dunk Halifax,

DUPPLIN,

15, October 1750. C Townshend.



Governor Clinton to the Lords of Trade.

[ New-Tork Papers, Hh., No. 126. ]

My Lords

The advices I had from my Agents gave me reason to expect, that I should have received
early last spring His Maty's Pleasure, on the matters which I had represented to your Lordships
and to his Grace of Bedford. I was in dayly expectation of this, till the middle of last Summer,
and thought it my duty to delay meeting the Assembly of this Province, till I received His
Matys Pleasure, as otherwise I was in danger of exposing the Authority of His Majestys
commission to contempt. But being at last informed that nothing would be done relating to
•i the affairs of this Government till after the Kings return from Hanover it became incumbent
on me to provide for the Exigencies of His Matys service

The French had their Emissaries among all the Indian Nations depending on or in Friendship
with the English Colonies who by all the Artifices in their Power and with a large expence of
Money had gained great influence over them, by infusing into their minds prejudices against
the English, and extravagant opinions of the French power, and were likewise inciting them to
make war on each other; of which I transmitted to your Lordships and the Duke of Bedford
the Informations I had received

The Garrison of Oswego (by which the fidelity of the Six Nations in a great measure is
secured) tho' consisting of Regular Troops is supported in Provisions by this Province, which
must have failed and the Garrison thereon been withdrawn without meeting the Assembly ;
To all which may be added that I and all the Officers of_the Government had been two years
without any support, which was harder on me, by the Difficulties which were made in the
payment of my publick Bills, for which my person & fortune stand engaged

Now my Lords ! If I had not met the Assembly all the misfortunes or other unhappy incidents
in tiie Governm' which may happen, would have been thrown on me, with all the noise &
Clamour that could have been raised or invented

I foresaw & must confess that I could not obtain any supply for any service however necessary,
till I have' a promise to the Speaker, to pass all their Bills in the manner they were formerly,
in the time of L' Governor Clarks administration and I humbly hope that the necessity of
His Majestys Service will at this time excuse what the same necessity has so often before

' gave. Clinton to Bedford, post. p. 602. — Ed.



LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXIX. 599

constrained me to do, especially as I have not yet been able to obtain a direct Answer to any
part of the Representations 1 have so long since made on this head

For I am perswaded your Lps must perceive that it is not in the power of a Government to
prevent these encroachments on His Majestys authority, when your Lordships shall consider
not only the neglect but the Contempt with which His Majestys commission & Instructions
have been treated in former Assembly s

There are no instances I beleive where men who have by any means gained Power, that
they willingly give it up and much more unwillingly, when they find means, at the same time
to fill their own or their Friends Pocketts thereby

My duty therefore obliges me to tell your Lordships my humble opinion that the King must
enforce the authority of his own Commission or resolve to give up the Government of this
Province into the hands of the Assembly

1 can safely affirm, that it is not in the power of any Governor on the present footing
of affairs) to support his authority in this Province and in the present state of the Courts of
Judicature in it, while the Assembly retains such an influence over all the officers of Government

I have the honor to be

With very great Regard
My Lords

Your Lordships mo obed'

and very humble Servant

2 Dec 1750 Geo Clinton



Colonel Jolmson to Governor Clinton.

[ New-Tork Papers, Hh., No. 12T. ]

Sepf 25. 1750
May it please your Excellency

This is to acquaint your Excellency, that the bearers hereof are two English men belonging
to Pensylvania Government, and as they were trading among the Indians of Ohio River last
Summer as usual were taken Prisoners by seven Indians sent by the commanding officer of
De Troit for said purpose, and by him detained ever since the beginning of last June, it
plainly appears by all the circumstances that he the said officer sent the Indians to take or
destroy what English men they could meet, as the Indians told those young men so & shewed
them the Ammunition Tobacco &c'' which the said officer gave them for their Journey: And
when they brought said Prisoners to him, he was very thankfuU and rewarded them well
which said Prisoners were eye witnesses to. He being releived by an other officer, took those
two Prisoners with him, in order to bring them to Quebec, but they lukily made their escape
from him half way between Niagara & Oswego from which they came to me in a miserable
naked condition. They say the French are making all the Preparations possible again the
Spring to destroy some Nations of Indians very stedfast in our Interest, which if they succeed
in, will be of very bad consequence They met in the Lake ten or twelve large Battoes,
laden with Stores & Amunition for said purpose, with whom were several officers in particular



600 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

two sons of one of their L' Governors whom I suppose to be Mons' Longquiles Sons, certainly
they have something in agitation which they want to put in execution as soon as they can ;
having accounts from several Hands lately which corroborate Those two men say that the
French at Detroit and thereabout have offered and given some Indians great Presents to go
& take or destroy one M"' Crochan & Lawrie, two of the cheif men who trade from
Pensylvania and have the most influence on all Indians, living thereabouts of any that ever
went among them or in all likelyhood ever may — Should they succeed therein it would
certainly be a great Step towards their gaining them Indians who are as yet very strongly
attached to the British Interest and double the number of the five Nations, more over if the
French go on so, there is no man can be safe in his own house for I can any time get an Indian
to kill any man for paying of him a small matter Their going on in this manner is worse than
an open War. Jean Ceur whom I mentioned to your Excellency some time ago is now gone
among S"* Ohio Indians in order to Sperit them up against the English (I wish he may meet
with his proper desert) I hope your Excellency will pardon my troubling you with so long a
Detail of this kind but [as] I thought it my duty to acquaint you of every thing that may come
to my knowledge relating to the Service of the Province, hope you will excuse it and beleive
me to be with all sincerity and Esteem

Sir

Your Excellencys

most obedient Servant
New York W" Johnson

a true copy Exam"^ by

Gw Banyar D Secy



Affidavit of Mr. Horsmanden.

[ Ncw-Tork Papers, Hh., 125. ]

City of New York

Whereas I the subscriber Daniel Horsemanden Esq'^'^ have lately been informed, that it has
been whispered about this city for these twelve months past or more that I did apply to His
Excellency our Governor and requested of him to recommend me to his Majesty for a
commission to supersede Richard Brad[l]ey Esq" as Attorney General of this Province which
report I have some reason to imagine was invented and purposely propagated to blacken my
Character Therefore to wipe off so foul an Aspersion I am in justice to myself obliged to
declare the truth That some time since to the best of my Remembrance last summer was
two years M"' Bradley being in a weak and declining State of health and in the Opinion of
those that visited him not like to survive long, I did apply myself to His Excellency our
Governor and after representing the dangerous Condition I apprehended M"' Bradley to be in
requested him to recommend me to His Majesty, through the favor of His Grace the Duke of
Newcastle that I might be honored with that Commission in case of M'' Bradleys death

Whereupon his Excellency was pleased to signify that he would, but asked me what reasons
he should offer to his Grace, why I should be inclined in such a case to descend from the Bench



LONDON DOCUMENTS : XXIX. 601

to the Bar or expressed himself in words to that purpose. And as T was not at a loss for Reasons
I told them and the seemed satisfactory and His Excellency thereupon bid me commit them to
writing and said he would accordingly write to his Grace. But to the best of my remembrance
I did not do so till after his Excellency reminded me of it, and I then drew them up, and
presented him with a copy of them. But that I ever applyed to his Excellency to intercede
for a commission to supercede M'' Bradley in his said Office I do absolutely deny And do declare
that the said Report is utterly false and without the least shaddow of Foundation in Truth
And more over that it never so much as entered into my thoughts to make any such application
as last mentioned

Dan Horsmanden
Memorandum the 23 Jan'^ 1747

Then appeared before me Frederick Philipps (one of the Justices of the supreme Court of
the Province of New York) the above named Daniel Horsmanden Esq" and declared upon the
holy Evangelists of Almighty God that the Contents of the aforegoing Declarations are true.



Governor CUntorCs Declaration on Mr. HorsmandeiCs Affidavit.

[Now York Papers, Ilh., No. 125.]

Whereas M' Daniel Horsmanden late a Member of His Majestys Council of this Province
made an affidavit that he never applyed to me to intercede with the Duke of Newcastle to
obtain a Commisson for him to supercede M' Bradley the present Attorney General in his
office. And whereas I hear the said Affidavit gains credit with many people

I do hereby testifie & declare upon my honor and the faith of a Gentleman that the said
Daniel Horsmanden did apply to me to move His Majesty through the favor of His Grace the
Duke of Newcastle to supercede the said M"' Bradley in his office as Attorney General of this
Province in confidence the said M"" Bradley would be dead before M'' Horsmandens Commission
could come from England, But as I detested an Act of that kind injurious to any man I flatly
denyed the said Daniel Horsemanden my Interest or Recommendation for a Commission as
Attorney General of this Province on such Terms, or upon any other Terms than in Case of
the Death of M' Bradley. And I do further declare that the said Daniel Horsmanden has
wilfully and notoriously perjured himself by that Affidavit — And I refer myself to M'' De lancey
the Cheif Justice of the Province if I did not soon after complain to him of M' Horsemandens
ungenerous and unreasonable application in his own favor, with which I acquainted several of
my Family at a time I was greatly inclinable to serve M' Horsmanden when no difierence
subsisted in the Province in [testimony] of which I hereunto set my hand

Geo Clinto.v

20 Dec 1748.



Vol. VI. 76



602 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS.

Governor Clinton to the Duke of Bedford.

[ New-York Papers. ( S. P. O. ) XI., 207. ]

(Duplicate)
My Lord Duke

The advices I had from my agents, gave me reason to expect I should have received early
last spring, His Maj'-'^ pleasure on the matters, wiiich I had represented to Your Grace and the
Lords of Trade. I was in daily expectation of this, till the middle of last Summer, & thought
it my duty to delay meeting the Assembly of this province, till I received His Majesty's
pleasure, as, otherwise, I was in danger of exposing the Authority of His commission to
contempt. But being at last informed, that nothing would be done, relating to the affairs of
this Govern' till after the King's return from Hanover ; it became incumbent upon me to
provide for the exigencies of His Majesty's service.

The French had their Emissaries among all the Indian nations, depending on or in friendship
with the English Colonies, who, by all the artifices in their power, and with a large expence
of money, had gained great influence over them, by infusing into their minds prejudices against
the English, and extravagant opinions of the French power and were likewise inciting them to
make war on each other, of which I transmitted to your Grace and the Lords of Trade the