having some thing to Communicate to your Honour by me, and desired me to be at Home the 11th of the same Month, on which Day they came down to the Number of 14. I invited them into my House, and after some time Old Sack (who is the Chief of that Town) spoke to the following purpose: We desire you to acquaint our Brother the Governor, that our fforefathers came from Piscatua to an Island in Potowmeck, and from thence down to Philadelphia in Old Proprietor Penn's Time, in Order to shew their friendship to the Proprietor; That after their return they brought down all their Brothers from Potowmeck to Conejoholo, on the East side Sasquehannah, and built a town there.

"That the Indians of the six Nations told 'em there was Land enough, they might chuse their place of Settlement any where about Sasquehannah.

"That accordingly they thought fit to remove higher up Sasquehannah to the Conoy Town, where they now live; And on their first settling, the Indians of the six Nations came down & made their ffire, and all the great Men declared the fire of their Kindling in token of their approbation of their settling there; But that now the Lands all around them being settled by white People, their hunting is spoiled And they have been long advised by the six Nations to leave the place and go higher up the River and settle either at the Mouth of Conodogwinnet, Chiniotta, or up at Shamokin.

"That now they are come to a Resolution to remove up to Shamokin; And, therefore, according to their Custom, they desire to acquaint their Brother, the Governor, therewith, that he may know certainly where to find them upon any occasion; that they will be down at Philadelphia in one Year, and then they hope the Governor or some Gentlemen of Philadelphia will give them something for their old ffields.' And in order to satisfy your Honour that this Message was sent down at their instance, they desired the String of Wampum herewith sent to be delivered.

"Upon hearing that the Stragling Indians were call'd into their Towns upon Account of the late Skirmish in Virginia, I told them I hoped they were under no Apprehension of Staying amongst the white People, especially of this Province, for that they might be well assured they might remain very secure in their Treaty with this Government so long as they behav'd agreeably to it. To which the Old Man answer'd, that what had happened in Virginia was no motive at all to their removal; That they were under no fear or Apprehension of our People's using them ill, And that the sole reason was to be settled a little from the Inhabitants for the sake of their Hunting.

"As they observed to me form in the thing, I thought it would VOL. IV. 42.

be expected that I should be particular, or should have reduc'd it

to the necessary parts.

"I am Yo" Hon most obed. Humble serv

"Lancaster, 1st May, 1743."

"THO. COOKSON.

August 1st, 1743.

The Assembly, by two of their Members, acquainted the Governor that they were met pursuant to their Adjournment, and if the Governor had any thing to Lay before them they were ready to receive it. To which the Governor Answer'd that he had prepared a Message, and would send it to the House to-Morrow.

August 2d.

The Governor sent his Secretary with the following written Message, and the several Papers referred to, Viz1:

"Gentlemen:

"I have now the Pleasure to tell You that my Mediation be tween the Government of Virginia & the Indians of the six Nations has been so far attended with Success that nothing seems wanting but the fform of a treaty to reconcile their Differences, as well on Account of the Late unhappy Skirmish as of the Lands claimed by those Indians, which both parties are desirous should be held next Spring, and have given me the strongest Assurances that no Acts of Hostility shall be committed in the Mean time. The Governor of Maryland has likewise promised that Satisfaction shall be made them for their Lands settled by the People under his Government. I can truly say that I have spared no Pains, for no Pains can be too great to accomplish so desireable a work as that of Peace, and I assure my self from thence of Your and every Man's Approbation that has any Sentiments of Humanity or knows how to Value the Reputation or Security that will attend this Government from its becoming the Reconciler of our Neighbour's Quarrels. To avoid prolixity and for your more particular Information & Satisfaction, I have order'd Copies of the most material Transactions in this Affair to be laid before You.

"As this has generally been the Season for finishing the Business of the Year, it may not be improper to put you in mind that there are still some things undone which immediately concern the Interests of the Publick: I for my Part shall be glad of this and every other

Opportunity of demonstrating my willingness to do every thing that can reasonably be expected of me.

"Aug. 2, 1743."

"GEO. THOMAS.

August 6th.

Two members of Assembly waited on the Governor & delivered the following answer to his Message, Vizt:

"May it please the Governor:

"We receive with great Satisfaction the Account the Governor is pleased to give Us that his Mediation between the Government of Virginia & the Indians of the six Nations is attended with Success. The late unhappy Skirmish between some of the Inhabitants of that Colony and a Party of the six Nations, to such as Consider'd the dismal Consequences that might have attended, Afforded but a melancholy Prospect, and as we now find that by the Governor's Care and Diligence the Scene is happily changed, the Obstacles to future Peace removed, it merits not only our's & every mans Approbation' but excites our Gratitude in the return of our hearty thanks.

"This has generally been the Season for finishing the business of the Year, such as appears to Us necessary now to be done, and we have now under our Consideration, and the part which lies before Us we hope in a little Time to compleat. And we acknowledge the Obligation we are under for the kind Declaration the Governor is pleased to make of his being glad of this and every other Opportunity of demonstrating his willingness to do every thing that can reasonably be expected of him.""

August 11th.

Two Members of the Assembly waited on the Governor and presented a Bill for removing the Trustees of the Loan Office and appointing others to execute the said Trust.

August 13th.

Two of the Assembly waited on the Governor and informed him that several of their Members being sick and unable to attend, the House was inclinable to rise as soon as possible, and was therefore desirous to know his Sentiments on the Bill now before him. To which the governor answer'd that he was sorry for the Indisposi

tion of the Members, and that he was not himself very well, but that he had consider'd the Bill and had it still under Consideration.

EODEM DIE.

Two Members waited on the Governor and acquainted him that the House proposes to adjourn this Day to the 30th of September next, if he had nothing to lay before them that might require their longer Stay. To which the Governor answer'd, That he had no Objection to the Adjournment.

August the 13th.

Conrad Weiser's Report of his Journey to Onondago on the affairs of Virginia, in Obedience to the Orders of the Governor in Council, 13 June, 1743, delivered to the Governor the 1st September:

"On the 21st we arrived at Cachiadachse, the first Town of the Onondagoes. About noon I heard that the Messenger I had sent from Oswego had missed his Way and did not arrive there. I therefore imediately sent a Messenger from this place to the Chief Town about five miles off to acquaint the Chiefs of that Nation of my coming with a Message from Onas on behalf of Assaryquoa. They dispatched Messengers that Day to Summon the Council of the Six Nations. My Messenger came back & inform'd me that the House of Annwaraogon was appointed for our Lodging; we set out and arriv'd there at three o'Clock in the Afternon. After we had eat some dry'd Eels boiled in Hominy, and some Matts had been spread for Us to lye upon, Canassatego & Caheshcarowanoto, of the Chiefs, with several more, came to see Us & receiv'd Us very kindly. They asked how their Brethren did in Philadelphia, and in particular the Governor, & whether Onas was arrived. Ianswer'd that their Brethren in Philadelphia were all well & in the same Disposition of Mind as they had left them in Last Year, and in particular the Governor their Brother was so, who, according to the Trust reposed in him by Onas, when he left Philadelphia, was always engaged for the good of the Publick. We smoak'd a Pipe of Philadelphia Tobacco together, & had some further discourse on things of no Consequence. The 22d, early in the Morning, Tocanontie (otherwise call'd the black Prince of Onondago), came to see Us with Caxhayion and expressed their Satisfaction at my coming to Onondago, saying You never come without good News from our Brethren in Philadelphia. I smil'd & told him it was enough to kill a Man to come such a Long & bad Road over Hills, Rocks, Old Trees, and Rivers, and to fight through a Cloud of Vermine, and all kinds of Poisen'd Worms

and creeping things, besides being Loaded with a disagreeable Message, upon which they laugh'd; and Tocanontie told me that he was extreamely glad last Night to hear I was come to Onondago. Canassatego and Cahesh carowno, with several more, came to see Us again and spent the Day with us. We had for the Subject of our Conversation the Occurrences of our Journey and General News. The twenty-third it was good weather. I, with Shikellimo, visited Canassatego, desired him to meet Us in the Bushes to have a private Discourse, which he approved of. We met a little way distant from the Town; I brought with me my Instructions and the Wampums I had, and told him that as he was our Particular ffriend and well acquainted both with Indians & white People's Affairs & Customs, I would tell him all my Business, and beg his Advice how to speak to everything when the Council should be met. He assured me of his good will and Affection to the Governor of Pensilvania and all his People, and that he would do for me what lay in his power. I then explained my Instructions to him, and show'd him the Wampum. He told us that what he had heard of me was very good, he must first go and acquaint Caheshcarowano with it, and they would then both send for me and Shikellimo, and put us in the Way; we broke up imediately, and Canassatego went directly to Caheshcarowano and we to our Lodging. In the afternoon they sent for me and Shikellimo to the House of Caheshcarowano, and I was desired to bring my Instructions and my Wampums with me. I went along with the Messenger to the House of the said Chief, where I found, to my Surprize, all the Chiefs of Onondago met in Council. Tocanontie spoke to me after this Manner: Brother, the Chiefs of Onondago are all of one Body and Soul, and of one Mind; therefore Canassatego and Caheshcarowano have acquainted us with the whole of what had passed betwixt You and Canassatego in the Bushes; you have done very well and prudent to inform the Onondagoes of your Message before the rest of the Counsellors meet, since it Concerns chiefly the Onondagoes, and it will altogether be left to Us by the Council of the United Nations to answer your Message; be, therefore, not surprized in seeing Us all Met in Council unexpectedly, and explain the Paper to Us you have from our Brother the Governor of Pennsylvania, which I did accordingly, and acquainted them with the whole Message; they seemed to be very well pleased, and promised they would put every thing in such Posture that when the Council of the United Nations arrive, I should have an Answer soon, and such an one as they did not doubt would be satisfactory to the Governor of Pennsylvania and Assaryquoa; that they had always so much regard for Onas & his People that they would do anything for them in their Power, and they looked upon the Person that kept House for Onas (meaning the Governor) as if Onas was there himself. I thanked them for their good will and Left them for this Time, knowing they had something to do