and satisfaction of the common people, marriage of Miss Polly to Lieutenant Johnson, hunting dog sent down by Mr McCoumb, and draft on Johnson for £100; a letter of the 15th to William Darlington, sending draft on Mr. Mortier, paymaster, for £120 curency, with directions to pay Hugh Wallace £20 and send up beef, rice, bohea tea and American cheese and learn price of Madeira; a speech of Onondagaes on the 18th relative to murder of two men [in Seneca country], informing of meeting to be held at Chenussio, asking that the General's sentiments may be announced there by Mohawk messengers, naming members of several tribes authorized to bring Johnson report of Chenussio meeting, and seeking permission to send two principal warriors to confer with King George; a speech of Sir William to Onondagas on the 18th, suggesting that Onondaga is a better meeting place than Chenussio, agreeing to send word regarding General Amherst's sentiments, approving Indian messengers named, and promising to consider proposal to send deputies to King George, speech of Ondagoes, on the 19th, announcing resolution of Cayugas to refrain from interference in affair of Elder Brothers [Mohawks, Onondagas and Senecas] and go out against the Cherokees, and deprecating this resolve, and reply of Sir William, who delivered belt for Cayugas and message requesting their presence at Chenussio to assist in terminating trouble over murder; a letter of the 20th from John Glen Jun'r at Schenectady about payment of Indians employed by him and by Schuyler; an account, dated the 20th, of money paid by same to several persons for bateauing under David Schuyler from Schenectady to Littlefalls; a letter of the 20th from Lieutenant Thomas Cottrell, at Fort Schuyler, desiring to buy piece of land in which Lieutenant Smith, deceased, was interested; a letter of the 21st from James Shuter, at Schnectady, asking for £50 due on bill; a letter of the 21st from James Rivington, at New York, sending account for pictures, books, etc, and promising to send magazines on arrival of packet; William Johnson's account of the 22d, against estate of the late Hitchen Holland; a letter of the 22d from John Duncan at Schenectady, agreeing to Postmaster Colden's proposition, regarding a Schenectady mail service, for which Duncan is soliciting subscriptions, he to act as postmaster; a letter of the 22d from Witham Marsh, at New York, to "Good Sir William," explaining detention by "fresh fit of the gout," discussing bad conduct of Ferrall Wade in affair with Mr. Johnson [and John Macomb?], ostracism suffered by Wade on account of affair of Miss Corry, and suit for defamation threatened by old Mr Smith against Mr W -ce; and by a letter of the 22d from Peter Silvester (lawyer) at Albany on debt of William Printrup, against whom he is proceeding for Colonel Hoffman, offering to stay action if Johnson will give his word for the money. These papers were destroyed by the fire.

MEETINGS RELATING TO INDIAN LANDS

D.1

Wednesday March 23d 1763.

Had a Meeting with ye Mohawks & Several gentl". from Schenectady at Fort Johnson, when ye Mohawks made claim to ye Lands from ye Flatts of Schenectady to a place called Gagawariuni Alledging it never was sold by their Forefathers, but lent by them for a Range for their Cattle.

On wh. the Deputys from Schenectady produced the Indian Deed obtained for said Land from several of their Sachims in ye year 1679 & the Pattent granted in 1684 by Gov'. Dongan, also severall Receipts for ye Consideration.

To wh. the Mohawks answered that they looked upon y'. small Payment only as Rent for sd. Land & that they expected ye Schenectady People would consider further of it. The Schenectady People being impatient to return being near night, got up & bid farewel to them & hoped there would be no more dispute abt Said Land, but the Ind. were much discontented at their thinking of going away before they had given them further Satisfaction in ye affair, Saying that ye Indian Names to ye Deed & Receipts were not Mohawk Names.

At length Lieut. Col. Vanslyke desired they might return that as soon as they had reported w'. passed here to all ye People concerned, they would take ye same into consideration and send them an answer, at wh. they were satisfied & ye Meeting broke up.

After ye Schenectady Gentlemen Sett off, the Mohawks asked me my opinion of the affair wh. I gave them in favour of ye Schenectady People, being satisfied with wt. writeings they had laid before me that ye Land was purchased & paid for.

They then all seemed to acquiesce, but said ye Consideration was too trifleing for so large & valuable a Tract of Land, and

1Original destroyed by fire.

that if the People of Schenectady would consider the affair in yt. Light, there should be nothing more ab'. it.

While they were in Council, Coll. Eliphalet Dyer & Mr. Woodbridge of Stockbridge arrived at Fort Johnson, in order to know whether the Six Nations were comeing down to a meeting proposed to be held at Albany ye 22d Inst. with them the New England People who were now come to Albany for y'. purpose & had with them between three & four Hundred Pounds as a pres'. to give ye Six Nations in case they would consent to their ye New England Peoples Settling & enjoying the Lands of and ab'. Skahandowana on the Susquahana, also 6 Bullocks & three Barrels of Pork. This Invitation was sent last autumn in writeing by one John Smith who was with a Number of his Country People at Skahandowana' and delivered to Thomas King of Oswego2 who I told them, had not (I thought) delivered it to the Six Nations as I heard them say nothing about itt when a few days ago assembled at my House. The before mentioned Gentlemen then made me an offer to be a Partner in ye Land and to send up the Money to me, also the Bullocks & Pork &ca. that I might call ye Six Nations & give it to them provided they agreed to their proposal, all which I refused with y'. slight it deserved, and gave them my opinion on the whole affair, also told them the unhappy consequences would in all probability follow, should they (as they often hinted) force a Settlement in them parts. After many fruitless efforts to prevail on me to join & assist them, they returned to Albany.

The Mohawks who were yet present being desirous to know their business were told it in part, and seemed very uneasy about it, giveing it as their opinion that if the New Englanders persisted in their design of Settleing said Lands, it would be of very bad consequence.

1Or Schahentoa, Wyoming Valley, Pa.

2Owego; sometimes written Oswegy. See Doc. Rel. to Col. Hist. N. Y., 8: 120, 121, 122, 123, 125, 136.

FROM WILLIAM CORRY ETC.

The preceding account is followed in the Johnson Calendar, p. 163, by a letter of March 24th from William Corry, at Albany, about money matters, scarcity of fodder, plentifulness of wheat, sufferings of Chesnut and Graham by robbery and incendiarism, arrival of Mrs. Gage with two children from Montreal, expectation that Colonel Burton will take command at Montreal; and by an account of a meeting, on the 25th at Johnson Hall, with Mohawks relative to the conference at Chenussio, at which Chief Abraham reveals concern of Six Nations at intended emigration of Connecticut people to Skahandowana or Wioming, and begs that Johnson will ask Governor of Connecticut and intending settlers to wait till the movement has been considered at Chenussio, and Johnson approves this policy. Destroyed by fire.

FROM DAVID VAN DER HEYDEN

A. L. S.1

SIR

Albany 25th March 1763

These Waits on You With my unfeigned Regards and may Serve to Acquaint You that We are very Apprehensive of Evil Minded persons Harbouring Within this City for on the 15th instant the House of Ulrick van Vranke in the Tenure of Mr: Grymes (he being Gone to Schenectady) Was burnt With the house adjoyning it before it Could be Extinguished, and it Was With Great Difficulty the house of the Patroon Was Kept from Sharing the Same fate. As it was thought that Thives had been in and taken the Cash and most Valuable Effects, and set fire to the Rest to avoid a Discovery, as the Neighbors Who first Came to the fire, found the back door open — and this Morning a parcel of Shavings Were found fired in a Shed near a pile of Dry boards, at the house Where the Sign of Major Rogers

1In the New York Historical Society, New York City.

has hung for sometime; And this Afternoon fire Was Discovered under the Stable of Peter Lansingh; -So that the Mayor and Corporation being Met, Desired that I would Order a Watch to be kept, and as I thought it highly Necessary I have orderd. the Companys in this City to Keep Watch in their Turns, and this Night the Troop is to begin; the Watch is to Consist of an officer and at least Sixteen Men Who are to patrole the City and Apprehend all Villains & Strolers, and Deliver them to justice and I have Orderd. them to Continue the Watrh until they Shall Receive mine or My Superiors orders to the Contrary. and therefor Immediately Acquaint You therewith, and Desire to Know Wether its Agreable or not, in Expectation of An Answer

FROM JOHN DUNCAN AND JOHN MACOMB

In the Johnson Calendar, p. 163, are entered the following: a letter of March 26th from John Duncan, at Schenectady, on new postal arrangement and movements of General and Mrs. Gage; and a letter of the 26th from John Macomb, at Albany, about molasses and salt which he will send up, severe thaw, dog brought from Captain Lottridge [in Canada] and Captain Lottridge's draft on Johnson in favor of Macomb for £100. These papers were destroyed in the fire.