BROTHERS: We have heard your message by General Chapin, and have considered the request.

BROTHERS: By the peace of 1782, the King of Great Britain ceded to your brethren of Pennsylvania all the lands which they claim, but, from a regard to justice, and considering you as the real owners of the soil, could not consider themselves as entitled to it, until fairly purchased from yourselves.

BROTHERS: The lands which you have requested us to move off have for several years been purchased by the State of Pennsylvania from the Six Nations, and the lines bounding the same were opened and marked with their consent and approbation. The purchase north of the north boundary of Pennsylvania, west of the Conewango river, lake Chataque, and the path leading from thence to lake Erie, and south of the said lake, was made of your chiefs at fort Harmar (by General Butler and General Gibson) and the money and goods punctually paid to them.

BROTHERS: Your brethren of Pennsylvania have fairly and openly made the purchase of all the lands to which they lay claim, and have sold those lands to such people as choose to settle and work them; they think it now their duty to protect such settlers from the depredations of all such persons as may attempt to molest them.

BROTHERS: The present military preparations of your brethren of Pennsylvania were intended to protect their citizens against the Western hostile Indians only, not supposing any protection necessary against the Six Nations, whom they consider as their friends and allies.

BROTHERS: The line which you have marked upon the map will take back from your brethren of Pennsyvlania a large tract of land, which they have purchased from you. We cannot, therefore, consistently with our duty, remove from those lands, unless directed by the great council of our people, to whom we shall immediately send your message.

BROTHERS: We are sorry that our continuing on the lands which you have sold to your brethren of Pennsylvania, should be the cause of any uneasiness, or why we should not be considered by you as friends.

BROTHERS: Your brethren of Pennsylvania are a generous people; they have never wished for more than they were willing to pay for, and have never attempted to take what did not belong to them. They will be glad to meet you at all times, and afford relief to the weak and hungry of your people, who may take the trouble to come and see them at this place. In the mean time, as we are ordered here by the great council of your brothers of Pennsylvania, we cannot, consistently with our duty, remove from hence, until orders come from them for that purpose. Your message, however, shall be immediately forwarded by express to them, for their consideration.

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 10, 1794.

SIR: I had the honor to lay before the President of the United States your letter of yesterday.

I am instructed to say, that, under the actual circumstances of the United States, it becomes a subject of serious consideration, whether any measures ought now to be urged, which are likely to produce disgust to our friends, the Six Nations, and to extend Indian hostilities.

EXHIBIT 63.

The Secretary of War to Governor Mifflin.1

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 24, 1794.

SIR: The President of the United States has directed me to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's letter of this date,

1American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 518.

enclosing a copy of the orders which you have issued, for draughting one thousand militia from the western brigades, to support the detachment which the Legislature of Pennsylvania directed to be formed, for the purpose of protecting the commissioners who were authorized to lay out a town at Presqu' Isle.

It was intimated to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, by me, on the 10th instant, that, under the actual circumstances of the United States, it became a subject of serious consideration, whether any measures ought now to be urged, which are likely to produce disgust to our friends, the Six Nations, and to extend Indian hostilities.

Since then, information has been received from Israel Chapin, of which a copy is herein enclosed*, by which it will be perceived, that affairs are critically circumstanced between the United States and the said Six Nations.

The President of the United States, on mature reflection, is of opinion that it is advisable to suspend, for the present, the establishment at Presqu' Isle. That, independent of certain other considerations of delicacy and moment, which, at no distant day, will be better appreciated, the high probability of an immediate rupture with the Six Nations, if the measure be persisted in, countenanced by the late information, and increased by the recent murder of one of their people, appears to him a solid reason for a temporary suspension.

EXHIBIT 64.

The Secretary of War to Governor Mifflin.1

WAR DEPARTMENT, May 27, 1794.

SIR: I have the honor, in confidence, to transmit your Excellency the extract of a letter received from General Chapin, agent to the Six Nations, dated at Canandaigua, the 6th instant.

And I am instructed, by the President of the United States, to acknowledge, that yesterday, he received your favor of the 25th

*See letter from General Chapin, dated 29th April, 1794, and proceedings of a council holden at Buffalo creek, 21st April, 1794, transmitted 21st May, 1794. [Appearing in original text.]

American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 519.

instant, and its enclosures, stating the measures which you have taken to suspend, for the present, the establishment at Presqu' Isle, conformably to his opinion transmitted to you on the 24th instant. This opinion was communicated on the same day your letter was received, announcing your orders for draughting a thousand militia, to support the establishment, and it was the result of a general view of the subject, founded upon the recent information which had been received.

[Enclosure.]

Extract of a letter from General Chapin to the Secretary of War.

Since the departure of my son, I have received more direct information of the British having began to erect a fort at Sandusky, than I had when I had the honor of writing to you by him. I therefore, at that time, only verbally directed him to acquaint you therewith.

They feel very much alarmed at the garrisoning of Presqu' Isle, and endeavor to persuade the Indians that it is only to secure the property of that place, which, they contend, was fraudulently purchased of a few individuals, and not of the nation. If the garrison destined for that place is not pretty strong, it is doubtful whether it will not be attacked.

EXHIBIT 65.

The Secretary of War to Governor Mifflin.1

WAR DEPARTMENT, June 24, 1794.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit, for your information, the enclosed extract of a letter from General Israel Chapin, this moment received.

'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 520.

[Enclosure.]

Extract of a letter from General Israel Chapin to the Secretary of War, dated Canandaigua, June 12, 1794.

The council, which was to have been held at Venango, is to meet at Buffalo creek. I have already received three messages from the Indians, requesting my immediate attendance. I was in hopes that I might have been able to put off going until the return of my son, but this last message presses me, in the most earnest manner, to repair thither immediately, and I shall, accordingly, start to-morrow.

I am afraid of the consequences of the attempt to settle Presqu' Isle at present. The Indians do not acknowledge the validity of the Cornplanter's sale to Pennsylvania.

I shall inform you, by express, of the result of the treaty at Buffalo creek, on my return to Canandaigua.

EXHIBIT 66.

The Secretary of War to Governor Mifflin.1

WAR DEPARTMENT, July 15, 1794.

SIR: I have the honor to transmit, for your information, a letter from General Chapin, Agent to the Six Nations, dated at fort Le Boeuf, the 26th of June, last. You informed me that you had had transmitted to you the proceedings of the council at Buffalo creek, and the answer thereto, by Mr. Ellicot and Captain Denny, dated at Le Boeuf, the 26th of June.

[Enclosure.]

General Chapin to the Secretary of War.

FORT LE BOEUF, June 26, 1794.

HON. SIR: I left Canandaigua on the 13th of this month, in order to attend a council at Buffalo creek. I waited more than

'American State Papers, Indian Affairs, Vol. I, p. 520.