For the sums your son expended down here, you will be credited two hundred dollars. He has been paid here for his services from the time of his setting out until his return home, at the rate of two dollars per day. And he has advanced to him, on your account, the further sum of six hundred dollars, for which you will be held accountable. About two hundred dollars of this sum, at the excess, may be expended, in order to defray their expenses back; which will leave the sum of four hundred dollars in your hands, to be appropriated as the public interests may require.

I am sorry you did not find it convenient to repair to this city, as certain sentiments of economy and modes of management of the Indians, might have been more successfully impressed than may be done by letter.

But I beg leave to observe strongly, that the system of the Indian expenses and allowances are by no means to be measured by the helter-skelter conduct which was observed under the late management, which, in several instances, were unjustifiably expensive.

None but discreet men, having a proper regard to their own characters, and who will be content with reasonable compensations, are to be employed in the Indian department under your direction.

As you at present are regarded favorably, as well for your zeal as your economy, it will be important to you that these principles be manifest in all your future conduct; and while you continue to make the public good the rule of your action, you may proceed with confidence, as you may depend upon support.

As to your being allowed a clerk, there is no such establishment. You may, however, be allowed occasional assistance, at a reasonable compensation; but at present no fixed assistant can be allowed

Messrs. Pierce and Danforth have no exclusive right to trade with the Indians. If they assert any such thing, they do no honor to their recommendations, and exhibit themselves in the first instance as unworthy of confidence.

This will be manifest when the enclosed copies of the permission be examined, and when you are informed that Governor Clinton has also recommended for the same trade Abraham Fowler, and John Kane, to whom permissions are also given.

EXHIBIT 42.

General Chapin to the Secretary of War.1

CANANDAUQUA, July 17th, 1792.

SIR: Agreeably to the directions I received for the purpose, I set out for Buffalo creek the 9th ultimo. It was out of my power to despatch Captain Hendricks as soon as I could have wished.

The chiefs of the Five Nations at first peremptorily insisted on his waiting to accompany them, and it was not without diffiulty that they were induced to relinquish the point. After a council, which was protracted for several days, they, however, gave their consent. He set out in a bark canoe on the eighteenth, with suitable attendants and provisions. It was the opinion of the Indians, he would reach the place of destination in eight days. As I had possessed myself with all the information I expected, I would have returned home after the departure of Captain Hendrick, but the chiefs would by no means consent to my leaving them, while the treaty continued. And, indeed, I have not since been sorry, as I have reason to believe that my continuance has been the means of more perfectly reconciling the Onondagas and Cayugas. The far greater part, of both nations, have resided at Buffalo creek, ever since the last war. On my first arrival, the principal chief of the Cayuga nation, commonly known by the name of the Fish Carrier, and, indeed, the whole of both nations, were extremely disaffected. For the grounds of their disaffection, I must refer you, sir, to the speeches delivered to me on the occasion, which I ordered to be taken down in writing on the spot, and transmit to you by this despatch. After several conferences with the Fish Carrier, in which I was greatly assisted by several chiefs who attended Congress, he gradually relaxed in his severity, and at last became perfectly friendly. A number of young warriors had gone off in the spring, to join the hostile Indians: the Fish Carrier promised me that he would not only recall the party, but would go in person to the Southern treaty, and use every exertion to bring about a general pacification between Congress and the Southern Indians. That, after he had been useful, he would go and see General Washington; and could then take him by the hand with confidence and pleasure. Few Indians chiefs have a more extensive influence than the Fish Carrier. The alteration, therefore,

'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 241.

of his sentiments, could not but afford me the highest pleasure. I can only express it as my private wish, that all his reasonable requests might be gratified. You have no doubt heard, sir, that a number of the Senecas were concerned with our people in cutting off a scout of hostile Indians. This event has occasioned a good deal of uneasiness among the Five Nations. Their resentment is peculiarly excited against the commander of fort Jefferson. They say, that, contrary to the advice he has received from Congress, he has excited some of their thoughtless young men to strike the tomahawk into the heads of their brothers; that it has occasioned an uneasiness towards the whole of their nation, and thrown obstacles in the way of their influence in favor of their friends. The chiefs from Oneida did not arrive during the council: I should otherwise have been able to have despatched the chiefs of the Five Nations to the Southern treaty, previously to my leaving Buffalo creek. Two of the Massasoiga chiefs attended council with the Five Nations: their appearance was perfectly friendly. They expressed a wish to be made acquainted with our great men. The Mohawks were sent for from the Grand river; but, as Captain Brandt was absent, and their principal chief sick, they did not attend. Colonel Butler, the British superintendent of the Six Nations, was also requested to attend. He came as far as the garrison: the commanding officer would not permit him to proceed further. He, however, sent a speech to the Indians, in which he told them they were in the right path, and advised them to continue in it. I was visited by several British officers and gentlemen from the settlement of Niagara; they behaved with a politeness that seemed nearly to approach to real friendship. On the whole, every circumstance that respects the Six Nations, wears, at present, a most flattering appearance. The chiefs that went to Congress are our zealous friends: they particularly explained to the nations, who convened for the purpose, the speeches they had made and received while absent; the reception and treatment they received at Philadelphia: and I had the pleasure of observing, that they met with universal approbation.

From the best intelligence I could procure, the Southern nations rest in quiet, except the Delawares and Shawanese; neither can I learn that they at present have any thoughts of sending out war parties; but are very attentive lest an enemy should surprise their villages. The grand council of Indian

nations are now convening at the falls of the Big Miami. It is thought it will be the largest ever known. The Indians from Canada are invited, and every day expected at Niagara. No offensive step will be probably taken until after the general deliberation; and, from the number of friends we shall have there, I am induced to expect a favorable issue. The Five Nations manifested gratitude to Congress for their intention of erecting schools among them, and providing them with blacksmiths. I would, however, inform you, sir, that it will be out of my power to do either, except greater encouragement is given; and, if I may be permitted to give my private judgment, if Congress would establish at present only one school to the west of Genesee river, and endow it with a stipend that would make it an object for a gentleman of character, it might prove of infinite service, both in conciliating the affections of the Indians, and in laying a foundation for their civilization. I would wish, sir, some direction, how far I am to distribute to the Indians.. I am continually surrounded by a crowd of them, since my appointment. They all expect to be fed from my table, and made glad from my cellar. Some instances, too, of clothing, I have not been able to deny. I would suggest the idea, whether a small store of provisions and goods, to be distributed on necessary occasions, might not be a saving to the public.

I am, with respect, your most humble servant,

ISRAEL CHAPIN.

EXHIBIT 43.

Extract of a Letter from General Chapin to the
Secretary of War.1

CANANDAIGUA, August 14, 1792. SIR: Since I had the honor to write you, on the 17th instant, Captain Brandt, together with Doctor Allen and my son, have arrived at this place. The former appeared highly gratified with the attention paid him during his stay in Philadelphia, and appears to speak of it with pleasure; and I flatter myself his visit to that place will produce the desired effect He made but a short stay at this place, being very unwell. He was anxious to proceed on his journey with as much speed as possible, and was desirous to

'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 242.

have Doctor Allen accompany him as far as Niagara; and I wishing to have a continuance of his friendly disposition readily complied, and they arrived at Niagara the 24th ultimo, as Captain Brandt has informed me by letter, a copy of which I do myself the honor to enclose.

Doctor Allen proceeded on to fort Erie, at which place he was taken with a violent bilious fever, and at present remains there very sick. I think it may be depended on, that the Canada Indians, to the number of fifty or sixty, have gone on to the Miamis to attend the general council; and by the latest information I have obtained, the chiefs of the Six Nations were at fort Erie, waiting for a vessel to carry them on to attend the council with their brethren, and I sincerely hope the result of their deliberations will be a general and lasting peace.

The Governor of Upper Canada, after perusing the papers the Indians brought from Philadelphia, encouraged them to pursue the good work they had begun, and he would grant them every assistance in his power.

EXHIBIT 44.

General Chapin to the Secretary of War.1

CANANDAIGUA, 24th September, 1792.

SIR: I wrote you on the 14th and 25th ultimo, to which letters I have not received any answer, neither have I received any despatches from you since the 27th of June. Nothing material has transpired in this quarter, except the intelligence received from the Farmer's Brother is so considered. He informs, that, on his arrival at Detroit, he despatched two of the Seneca Indians who had accompanied the Canada Indians to that place, to Buffalo creek, (where they arrived about the 16th instant, and on the 22d two others arrived at this place, with a string of wampum from him) and informed that the Canada Indians, after their arrival at Detroit, saw a large collection of the hostile Indians; they remained at that place some days, without having any conference with them; that two of the Canada Indians went to the camp of the hostile Indians, and related to them the business which

1American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 242.