right to expend much money for the preservation of it, or at least it would never be worth the while to go to War about it, from hence it appears prudent to shun everything which might bring For on a rupture with the bad neighbours, which surround us. this Reason I would rather wish that the Tract of Country alluded to, should be kept uninhabited as long as possible and have therefore refused the repeated Sollicitations of many of the People of Vermont who call themselves our Friends, and of several Loyalists, for Grants of Lands on that Frontier.

It is still therefore in His Majesty's Power to Instruct his Governors to leave that Tract of ground on the Frontiers unconceded, at least for some Years when a better Judgment may be made than at present, of the Turn which affairs may take on this ContinentThere is another Consideration; the Canadians will encrease much in Population and in a few years, more lands will be wanted for them, and it seems good Policy that the Frontiers should be settled by People professing different Religion, speaking a different Language and accustomed to other Laws and Government, from those of our restless & enterprising neighbours of New England. Loyalists and Americans settled near one another could not agree at least for many Years, and the smallest trifle might be productive of outrages from which great mutual mischief would ensue in spite of all Efforts on the part of the respective Governments to prevent it; hence, my Lord, appears the great advantage which the Land between the River St. Lawrence and that of the Ontawa River towards Cataragui possesses, for making useful and happy Settlements for the Loyalists and of which I have given in former Letters an ample description-I will give great attention to Settling such Royalists in the Bay of Chaleurs as chuse it, as the Commercial advantages from such Settlements are obvious & great. I will follow punctually Your Lordship's Instructions with Regard to Conceding the Seigneury of Sorel, tho' I must observe that the Lands unconceded there, are in general very bad, and will not be much coveted by the Royalists.

I have the Honor to enclose a Copy of the General Order relative to disbanding the Army under my Command and beg that Your

Lordship will assure His Majesty that I have not lost, nor will lose a moment in Carrying the orders on that Head into Execution. I have the Honor to be with greatest Respect and Esteem

My Lord

Your Lordship's most obedient and most humble Servant,
FRED. HALDIMAND.

SIR: I was yesterday honored by the recet. of your letters of the 17th & 20th of August and am exceedingly happy that my answers to the Indian speeches meet with your approbation. They were received by the different nations then present with the most serious attention & in consequence of my advice they have sent a message to Congress to request that Major Schuyler & Col. Monro may be sent to Buffaloe Creek (a place nearly opposite to Fort Erie) to confer with them on the subject of their different complaints.

I am thoroughly sensible how critical my present situation here is and also of the very guarded part I have to act & can assure you Sir that no caution of mine shall be wanting to promote His Majesty's service in the department of which I have the direction. I have the satisfaction to receive constant assurances of the attachment of the Indians to the King's intrest.

I have the honor to inclose herewith a letter from Mr. McKee Dep. Superintendent of Indian Affairs at Detroit, and hope his account of the State of Indian matters there will not be unacceptable as he is a constant & much esteemed correspondent of mine, I will regularly transmit any intelligence from that quarter that may appear interesting.

'Canadian Archives, Q. 25, p. 183.

I hope Mr. Langan has according to my request communicated to your Ex. the contents of my last letter to him, since then I have received Accounts that the Americans are building three picquetted Forts near Tiago on the West branch of the Susquehanna; in about ten days I shall have more particular Accounts from thence, having sent Lieut. Clement with some Indians to reconnoitre and watch their motions.

The settlement on the Grand River is in a very promising State, my last returns from thence which I'm sure are accurate make the Number settled there A thousand souls, I am certain there would have been as many more if I could have encouraged them but that I declined being unwilling to encrease the expenditure of Provisions The Senecas assure me that should the Americans take possession of these Posts they intend to remove to Long Point on the opposite or North side of Lake Erie-their principal Chief Kayenguaraghthon deserves particular notice on account of his steady attachment to Government.

The present state of the Indian trade requires regulation—a number of people belonging to the disbanded troops have settled themselves among the Indians on purpose to avoid the restraints of the Law: there unmolested they exercise every species of cheating &c their continual jealousies & quarrels give the Indians the most unfavourable impressions of us-formerly no person was permitted to trade without a written permission from the Superintendent of Indian Affairs. Now, every idle fellow commences Indian trader. I am with respectful consideration, Sir

Your most obedient humble servant

Lt. Gov. Hamilton.

(Signed) JOHN Dease.

Endorsed: In Lieut. Gov. Hamilton's of 28 Sepr. 1785.

(No. 1)

MY LORD:

EXHIBIT 82.

Joseph Brant to Lord Sydney.1

I am happy at the Honor of being before your Lordship and having an opportunity of delivering the following Speech to you,

'Canadian Archives, Q. 26, p. 1.

in behalf of the Five united nations of Indians, and their Confederates, in North America.

The Cause of my coming to England being of the most Serious Consequence, to the whole Indian Confederacy, I intreat your Lordship patiently to hear, and Listen, to what I am going to say.

We hope it is a truth well known in this Country, what a faithfull part we took in their behalf, in the Late dispute with the Americans and though we have been told Peace has long since been Concluded between you and them, it is not finally Settled with us, which Causes great uneasiness through all the Indian Nations.

When we heard Peace was made between his Majesty, and the Americans, we made Application to General Haldimand at Quebec, to know our Situation, delivering him a Speech at the Same Time which we Requested might be sent to the King, a Copy of which I now deliver to your Lordship.

Having in that Speech, in as few words as Possible, pointed out what friendship, we had Shewn to the English, from the Earliest Time of their arrival in America, and being Conscious, of the Active Part our forefathers, and we had taken in their favour, in every dispute they have had with their Enemies, we were Struck with astonishment at hearing we were forgot in the treaty; notwithstanding the manner we were told this, we could not believe it Possible such firm friends and allies could be so neglected by a Nation Remarkable for its Honor, and Glory, whom we had served with so much Zeal and Fidelity—for this reason we applied to the Kings Commander in Cheif in Canada, in a friendly and Private way, wishing not to let those People in Rebellion, know the Concern and trouble we were under-from the time of delivering that Speech near three Years we have had no Answer, and Remain in a State of Great Suspense and uneasiness of mind; this is well known to the Officers who Commanded at the upper Posts in America, many of whom are now in England, as is also our Zeal for his Majestys Service during the War.

Our trouble and distress is greatly increased by many things the Americans have said, to whom we have avoided giving any direct answer, or entering into any engagement with, before we have an Answer. On the arrival of Sir John Johnson our Superintendent General in Canada, we hoped to have received it, in

full Expectation of which Several of our first and Principal Cheifs, came down the Country to meet him and hear it, and were very much mortified and Sorry at being disopointed. It was then resolved that I should come to England, and I hope the Necessity we are under of getting this answer will Plead my Excuse for the trouble I give your Lordship.

It is my Lord the Earnest desire of the Five united nations, and the whole Indian Confederacy, that I may have an Answer to that Speech, and as from our Present Situation, as well as that of the American States, who have Surveyed and laid out great Part of the Lands in our Country, on our Side of the Boundary Line fixed at Fort Stanwix in 1768, the Last time We Granted any Territory to the King, (at which time some of the Governors attended in Person, and where they did not Commissioners vested with full Powers appeared on their behalf, so that we had all the Reason to hope that the transaction was binding with Respect to all Parties.) But through their encroaching disposition, we have found they Pay Little Regard to Engagements, and are therefore apprehensive of Imediate Serious Consequences, this we shall avoid to the utmost of our Power, as dearly as we love our Lands, but should it contrary to our wishes happen, we desire to know whether we are to be Considered as his majestys faithfull Allies, and have that Support and Countenance, such old and true friends Expect.

I beg Liberty to tell your Lordship, that your answer to these matters will be the means of releiving all our Nations from that Very troublesome and uneasie Suspense they now Labour under, and this they all hope for on my return.

The Claims of the Mohawks for their Losses having been delivered by Sir John Johnson His Majestys Superintendent for In

'Canadian Archives, Q. 26, p. 11.