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NEW YORK: REPRINTED FOR JOSEPH SARIN. 1865. a il f 200 ecpiti printed on rnnnU paper. 60 ccpiu ^> ) Fathers, I lie/ire you may hear me in Civil- ne/s ; if not, we ph 7/ handle that Rod which was laid down for the Ufe of the abflrepcrou^. If you had come in a peaceable Marnier, like our Brothers the ^nglifh, we JJiould not have been againfl your trading with us, as they do ; but TO COME, Fathers, and build Houses upon our Land, and to take it by Force, is what we cannot submit to. Fathers, Both you and the Englifh are white, we live in a Country between ; therefore the Land belongs to neither one nor t'other: But the Great Being above allowed it to be a Place of Reftdence for us ; fo Fathers, I deftre you to withdraw, as I have done our Brothers the Eng- lifti : For I will keep you at Arms length. I lay this down as a Trial for both, to fee which will have thegreatefl Regard to it, and that Side we zvillfland by, and make equal Sharers with us. Our Brothers the Engl i fh have heard this, and I come now to tell it to you , for I am not afraid to difcliarge you off this Land. This he faid was the Subftance of what he fpoke to the General, who made this Reply, Now my Child, I have heard your Speech: You fpoke firfl, but it is my Time to fpeak now. Where is my Wampum that you . .^-jay, with ( '7 ) tvith the Marks of Timns in it ? This Wam- pum I do not kncnv, . hick you / ive di/charged me off the Land with ; But you need not put yourfelf to the Trouble of fpi'^king.for I wtli not hear you. I am not afraid of Flies, or Muf guitos,for Indians arefuch as thofe. I tell you, down that River I will go, and will build upon /'/, according to my Command. If the River was block'd up, I have Forces fufficient to burfl it open, and tread under my Feet all thatfland in Oppofition, together ivith their Alliances ; for my Force is as the Sand upon the Sea Shore : Therefore, here is your Wampum, I fling it at you. Child, you talk foolifli ; you fay this Land belongs to you, but there is not the Black of my Nail yours. I faw that Land fooner than you did, before the Shannoahs and you ivere at War : Lead was the Man who went down, and took Poffeffion of that River : It is my Land, and I will have it, let who will fland-up for, orfay- againfl,it. Til buy attd fell with (he Englifli, (mockingly). If People will be riud by me, they may expe5l Kindnefs, but not elfe. 11 The Half-King told me he enquired of the General after two EnglifJimen who were made Prifoners, and received this Anfwer. ' % Child, You think it is a very great HardfJiip 3 that \ \ 111 i n H 'i \ ( 18) ^Aai I made Prifoners of thofe two People at Venango. Dont you concern your/elf with it : We took and carried them to Canada, to get in- telligence of what the EngHfh were doing in Virginia. He informed me that they had built two Forts, one on Lake Erie^ and another on French- Creek, near a fmall Lake about 15 Miles afun- der, and a large Waggon Road between : They are both built after the fame Model, but differ- ent in the Size ; that on the Lake the largeft. He gave me a Plan of them, of his own draw- ing. The Indians enquired very particularly after their Brothers in Carolina Goal. They alfo afked what Sort of a Boy it was who was taken from the South-'Ex2inc\i', for they were told by fome Indians, that a Party of French Indians had carried a white Boy by the Kufkufka Town, towards the Lakes. iblh. We met in Council at the Long- Houfe, about 9 o'Clock, where I fpoke to them as follows. Brothers, I have called you together in Coun- cil, by Order of your Brother the Governor of Virginia, to acquaint you, that I am fent, with allpofftble Difpatch, to vijit, and deliver a Let- ter (19) ter to the French Commandant., of very great Importance to your Brothers the Englifh ; and I dare fay, to you their Friends and Allies. I was defired, Brothers, by your Brother the Governor, to call upon you, the Sachems of the Nations, to inform you of it, and to ajk your Advice and Afjfiflance to proceed the nearefl and befl Road to the French. You fee, Brothers, I have gotten thus far on my yourney. His Honour likewife defired me to apply to you for fome of your young Men, to condu£land provide Provifions for us on our Way ; and be a Safeguard againfl thofe French Indians who have taken up the Hatchet againfl us. I have fpoke this particularly to you, Brothers, becaufe his Honour our Governor treats you as good Friends and Allies-, and holds you in great Efleem. To confirm what I have faid, I give you this String of Wampum. After they had confidered for fome Time on the above Difcourse, the Half-King got up and (poke. Now, my Brothers, in Regard to what my Brother the Governor has defired me, I return you this Anfwer. I rely upon you as a Brotlier ought to do, as you fay we are Brothers and one People : We fhall ■■■?| (ii V I i C20) JItallput Heart in Hand, and /peak to our Fa- thers the French concerning the Speech they made to me ; and you may depend that we will endeavour to be your Guard. Brother, as you have q/ked my Advice, I hope you will be ruled by it, and Jlay till I can pro- vide a Company to go with you. The French Speech-Belt is not here, I have it to go for to my huni'ng-Cabbin : Likewife the People whom I have ordered in, are not yet come, nor cannot till the third Night from this \ till which Time, Brother, I mujl beg you to flay. I intend to fend a Guard of Mingo's, Shan- noahs, and Delawares, that our Brothers may fee the Love and Loyalty we bear- them. As I had Orders to make all pofTible Difpatch, and waiting here was very contrary to my Incli- nation, I thanked him in the moft fuitable Man- ner I could ; and told him, that my Bufinefs re- quired the greateft Expedition, and would not admit of that Delay. He was not wellpleafed that I fhould offer to go before the Time he had appointed, and told me, that he could not con- fent to our going without a Guard, for Fear fome Accident fhould befal us, and draw a Reflexion upon him. Befides, fays he, this is a Matter of no fmall Moment, and muft not be entered into without due Confideration : For now I intend to deliver (21 ) deliver up the ^iK^«^^-Speech-BeIt, and make the Shanoahs and Delawares do the fame. And accordingly he gave Orders to King Shingi/s, who was prefent, to attend on Wednefday Night with the Wampum ; and two Men of their Na- tion to be in Readinefs to fet-out with us next Morning. As I found it was impoflible to get- off without affronting them in the moft egre- gious Manner, I confentedto ftay. I gave them back a String of Wampum which I met with at Mr. Frezier's, and which they had fent with a Speech to his Honour the Governor, to inform him, that three Nations o{ French In- dians, viz. Chippoways^ Ottoways, and Orun- daks, had taken -up the Hatchet againft the Englijh ; and defired them to repeat it over again : But this they poftponed doing till they met in full Council with the Shannoahs and Delaware Chiefs. 2'jth. Runners were difpatched very early for the Shannoah Chiefs. The Half-King fet out himfelf to fetch the 7^nr«^^-Speech-Belt from his hunting Cabbin. 28/^. He returned this Evening, and came with Monokaioocka, and two other Sachems to my Tent ; and begged (as they had complied with his Honour the Governor's Requeft, in pro- viding Men, &c.) to know on what Bufinefs we were going to the French ? this was a Queflion I I I 'i ! I m w :: ( " ) I all along expedled, and had provided as fat- isfadory Anfwers to, as I could ; which allayed their Curiofity a little. Monokatoocha informed me, that an Indian from Venango brought News, a few Days ago, that the French had called all the Mingo's, Del- awares, &c. together at that Place; and told them, that they intended to have been down the River this Fall, but the waters were growing cold, and the Winter advancing, which obliged them to go into Quarters ; But that they might affuredly expedt them in the Spring, with a far greater Number; and defired that they might be quite paflive, and not to intermeddle, unlefs they had a Mind to draw all their Force upon them : For that they expedled to fight the Eng- lijh three Years (as they fuppofed there would be fome Attempts made to ftop them) in which Time they fhould conquer : But that if they ftiould prove equally ftrong, they and the Eng- lijh, would join to cut them all off, and divide the Land between them : That though they had loft their General, and fome few of their Sol- diers, yet there were men enough to reinforce them, and make them Mafters of the Ohio. This Speech, he faid, was delivered to them by one Captain Joncaire their Interpreter in Chief, living at Venango, and a Man of Note in the Army. 29/^ (23) 2<^ih. The Half-King and Monokatoocha, came very early, and begged me to flay one Day more : For notwithftanding they had ufed all the Diligence in their Power, the Shanoak Chiefs had not brought the Wampum they ordered, but would certainly be in To-night; if not, they would delay me no longer, but would fend it after us as foon as they arrived. When I found them fo preffing in their Requeft, and knew that returning of Wampum was the aboliftiing of Agreements ; and giving this up, was fhaking- off all Dependance upon the French^ I confented to ftay, as I believed an Offence offered at this Crifis, might be attended with greater ill Confe- quence, than another Day's Delay. They alfo informed me, that Shingifs could not get-in his Men ; and was prevented from coming himfelf by his Wife's Sicknefs, (I believe, by Fear of the French) ; but that the Wampum of that Na- tion was lodged with Kujlaloga one of their Chiefs at Venango. In the Evening late they came again and ac- quainted me that the Shannoahs were not yet arrived, but that.it fhould not retard the Profe- cution of our Journey. He delivered in my Hearing, the Speeches that were to be made to the French by Jejkakake^ one of their old Chiefs, which was giving - up the Belt the late Commandant had afked for, and repeat- ing I I (M) ing near the fame Speech he himfelf had done before. He alfo delivered a String of Wampunni to this Chief, which was fent by King Shingi/s, to be given to Kii/laloga, with Orders to repair to the French, and deliver-up the Wampum. He likewife gave a very large String of black and white Wampum, which was to be font up immediately to the Six Nations, if the French refufed to quit the Land at this Warning; which was the third and laft Time, and was the Right of this yejkakake to deliver. 30//^. Laft Night the great Men aflembled to their Council-Houfe, to confult further about this Journey, and who were to go : The Refult of which was, that only three of their Chiefs, with one of their beft Hunters, fhould be our Con- voy. The Reafon they gave for not fending more, after what had been propofed at Council the 26th, was, that a greater Number might give the French Sufpicions of fome bad Defign, and caufe them to be treated rudely ; But I rather think they could not get their Hunters in. We fet out about 9 o'Clock with the Half- King, Je/kakake, White Thunder^ and the Hunt- er ; and travelled on the Road to Venango, where we arrived the 4th of December, without any Thing remarkable happening but a contin- ued Series of bad Weather. This \ ': 4 (25) This is an old Indian Town, fituated at the Mouth of French Creek on Ohio ; and lies near N. about 60 Miles from the Loggs-Toyiw, but more than 70 the Way we were obliged to go. We found the French Colours hoifted at a Houfe from which they had driven Mr. John Frazier, an EngliJJi Subject. I immediately re- paired to it, to know where the Commander re- fided. There were three Officers, one of whom, Capt. Joncaire, informed me, that he had the Command of the Ohio : But that there was a General Officer at the near Fort, where he ad- vifed me to apply for an Anfwer. He invited us to fup with them ; and treated us with the greateft Complaifance. The Wine, as they dofed themfelves pretty plentifully with it, foon banifhed the Reftraint which at firft appeared in their Converfation ; and gave a Licence to their Tongues to reveal their Sentiments more freely. They told me. That it was. their abfolute De- fign to take Pofleflion of the Ohio, and by G — they would do it : For that altho' they were fenfible the Englijh could raife two Men for their one ; yet they knew, their Motions were too flow and dilatory to prevent any Undertak- ing of theirs. They pretend to have an un- doubted Right to the River, from a Difcovery made by one La Salle 60 Years ago ; and the 4 Rife 'i \ I i m (26) Rife of this Expedition is, to prevent our fettling on the River or Waters of it, as they had heard of fome Families moving-out in Order thereto. From the beft Intelligence I could get, there have been 1 500 Men on this Side Ontario Lake: But upon the Death of the General all were re- called to about 6 or 700, who were left to gar- rifon four Forts, 150 or there abouts in each. The firft of them is on /rmr^-Creek, near a fmall Lake, about 60 miles from Venango, near N.N.W. the next lies on Lake Erie, where the greater Part of their Stores are kept, about 15 Miles from the other. From this it is 120 Miks to the carrying Place, at the Falls of Lake Erie, where there is a fmall Fort ; which they lodge their Goods at, in bringing them from Montreal, the Place whence all their Stores come from. The next Fort lies about 20 Miles from this, on Ontario Lake. Between this Fort and Mon- treal there are three others, the firft of which is near oppofite to the EngliJJt Fort O/wego. From the Fort on Lake Erie to Montreal is about 600 Miles, which they fay requires no more, if good Weather, than four Weeks Voyage, if they go in Barks or large Veflels, fo that they may crofs the Lake : But if they come in Canoes it will require 5 or 6 Weeks, for they are obliged to keep under the Shore. Ith. Rain'd exceffively all Day, which pre- vented ( 27 ) vented our Travelling. Capt. Joncaire fent for the Half-King, as he had but juft heard that he came with me : He affedled to be much con- cerned that I did not make free to bring them in before. I excufed it in the beft manner I was capable, and told him, I did not think their Company agreeable, as I had heard him fay a good deal in Difpraife of Indians in general. But another Motive prevented me from bring- ing them into his Company: I knew he was Interpreter, and a Perfon of very great Influence among the Indians, and had lately ufed all pof- fible Means to draw them over to their Intereft; therefore I was defirous of giving no Opportu- nity that could be avoided. When they came in, there was great Pleafure exprefled at feeing them. He wondred how they could be fo near without coming to vifit him ; made feveral trifling Prefents ; and ap- plied Loquor fo faft, that they were foon ren- dred incapable of the Bufinefs they came about, notwithftanding the Caution which was given. dth. The Half-King came to my Tent, quite fober, and infifted very much that I fhould ftay and hear what he had to fay to the French. I fain would have prevented his ipeaking any Thing, till he came to the Commandant; but could not prevail. He told me, that at this Place a Council Fire was kindled, where all their Bufinefs i ' m (■J •■ r i III 'itii ■1 < if i (28) Bufinefs with thcfe Peopl'* was to be tranfadled ; and that the Management of the Indian Affairs was left folely to Monfieur Joncaire. As I was defirous of knowing the Iffue of this, I agreed to ftay : But fent our Horfes a little Way up French Creek, to raft over and encamp ; which I knew would make it near Night. About 10 o'clock they met in Council. The King (poke much the fame as he had before done to the General ; and offered the French Speech- Belt which had before been demanded, with the Marks of four Towns on it, which Monfieur Joncaire refufed to receive ; but defired him to carry it to the Fort to the Commander. ^th. Monfieur La Force, Commiffary of the French Stores, and three other Soldiers came over to accompany us up. We found it ex- tremely difficult to get the Indians off To-day, as every Stratagem had been ufed to prevent their going-up with me. I had laft Night left John Davifon (the Indian Int^tpreter whom I brought with me from Town, and ftridly charged him not to be out of their Company, as I could not get them over to my Tent ; for they had fome Bufinefs with Kujlalogay chiefly to know the Reafon why he did not deliver up the French Belt which he had in Keeping: But I was obliged to fend Mr. Gi/l over To-day to fetch them ; which he did with great Perfuafion. At (29) At 1 1 o'clock we fet out for the Fort, and were prevented from arriving there till the nth by exceflive Rains, Snows, and bad Travelling, through many Mires and Swamps. Thefe we were obliged to pafs, to avoid crofling the Creek, which was impoflible, either by fording or raft- ing, the Water was fo high and rapid. We pafTed over much good Land fince we left Venango, and through feveral extenfive and very rich Meadows ; one of which I believe was near four Miles in Length, and confiderably wide in fome Places. 1 2th. I prepared early to wait upon the Com- mander, and was received and conducted to him by the fecond Officer in Command. I ac- quainted him with my Bufmefs, and offered my Commiflion and Letter : Both of which he dc' fired me to keep till the Arrival of Monfieur Ri- parti, Captain, at the next Fort, who was fent for and expefted every Hour. This Commander is a Knight of the military Order of St. Lewis, and named Legardeur de St. Piere. He is an elderly Gentleman, and has much the Air of a Soldier. He was fent over to take the Command, immediately upon the Death of the late General, and arrived here about feven Days before me. At 2 o'clock the Gentleman who was fent for arrived, when I offered the Letter, &c. again ; which \ ^1 ' fi 1 1 \ i3 \\ f 1 1 );; ,::( 1 ' ^1 Jf ^^1 I I'll (30) which they received, and adjourned into a pri- vate Apartment for the Captain to tranflate, who underftood a little Englijh. After he had done it, the Commander defired I would walk-in, and bring my Interpreter to perufe and corredl it; which I did. 13///. The chief Officers retired, to hold a Council of War ; which gave me an Opportu- nity of taking the Dimenfions of the Fort, and making what Obfervations I could. It is fituated on the South, or Weft Fork of French Creek, near the Water ; and is almoft furronnded by the Creek, and a fmall Branch of it which forms a Kind of Ifland. Four Houfes compofe the Sides. The Baftions are made of Piles driven into the Ground, ftanding more than 12 Feet above it, and (harp at Top: With Port- Holes cut for Cannon, and Loop-Holes for the fmall Arms to fire through. There are eight 6 lb. Pieces mounted, in each Baftion ; and one Piece of four pound before the Gate. In the Baftions are a Guard-Houfe, Chapel, DoAor's Lodging, and the Commander's private Store : Round which are laid Plat-Forms for the Can- non and Men to ftand on. There are feveral Barracks without the Fort, for the Soldiers Dwelling ; covered, fome with Bark, and fome with Boards, made chiefly of Loggs. There are alfo feveral other Houfes, fuch as Stables, Smiths Shop, &c. I \\ (3' ) I cniild get no certain / iccount of the Num- ber of Men here : But according to the beft Judgment I could form, there are an Hundred exclufive of Officers, of which there are many. I alfo ga/e Orders to the People who were with me, to take an exaft Account of the Canoes which were hauled-up to convey their Forces down in the Spring. This they did, and told 50 of Birch Bark, and 170 of Pine; bt fides many others which were blocked-out, in Readi- nefs to make. \dfth. As the Snow encreafed very faft, and our Horfes daily became weaker, I fent them off unloaded ; under the Care of Barnaby Currin and two others, to make all convenient Difpatch to Venango, and there wait our Arrival, if there was a Profpeft of the Rivers freezing : If not, then to continue down to Skanapin's Town, at the Forks of Ohio, and there to wait till we came to crofs Aliganey; intending myfelf to go down by Water, as I had the Offer of a Canoe or two. As I found many Plots concerted to retard the Indians Bufinefs, and prevent their return- ing with me ; I endeavour'd all that lay in my Power to fruftrate their Schemes, and hurry them on to execute their intended Defiign. They accordingly prefled for Admittance this Even- ing, which at Length was granted them, pri- vately. l; !! I i ! (32) vately, with the Commander and one or two other Officers. The Half-King told me, that he ofFer'd the Wampum to the Commander, who evaded taking it, and made many fair Promifes of Love and Friendfhip ; faid he wanted to live in Peace, and trade amicably with them, as a Proof of which he would fend fome Goods im- mediately down to the Log/ s-T own for them. But I rather think the Defign of that is, to bring away all our ftraggling Traders they meet with, as I privately underftood they intended to carry an Officer, &c. with them. And what rather confirms this Opinion, I was enquiring of the Commander, by what Authority he had made Prifoners of feveral of our Englijh Subjefts. He told me that the Country belong'd to them; that no Englijhman had a Right to irade upon thofe Waters ; and that he had Orders to make every Perfon Prifoner who attempted it on the Ohio^ or the Waters of it. I enquir'd of Capt. Riparti about the Boy who was carried by this Place, as it was done while the Command devolved on him, between the Death of the late General, and the Arrival of the prefent. He acknowledged, that a Boy had been carried paft ; and that the Indians had two or three white Men's Scalps, (I was told by fome of the Indians at Venango Eight) but pre- tended to have forgotten the Name of the Place which 11' (33) which the Boy came from, and all the Particu- lar Fads, though he had queftion'd him for fome Hours, as they were carrying him paft. I like- wife enquired what they had done with John Trotter and James Mac Clocklan, two Penfyl- vania Traders, whom they had taken, with all their Goods. They told me, that they had been fent to Canada^ but were now returned Home. This Evening I received an Anfwer to his Honour the Governor's Letter from the Com- mandant. 15///, The Commandant ordered a plentiful Store of Liquor, Provifion, &c. to be put on Board our Canoe ; and appeared to be extremely complaifant, though he was exerting every Arti- fice which he could invent to fet our own In- dians at Variance with us, to prevent their go- ing 'till after our Departure. Prefents, Rewards, and every Thing which could be fuggefted by him or his Officers. 1 can't fay that ever in my Life I fufFer'd fo much Anxiety as I did in this Affeir : I faw that every Stratagem which the moft fruitful Brain could invent, was prac- tifed, to win the Half-King to their Intereft ; and that leaving him here was giving them the Opportunity they aimed at, 1 went to the Half-King and prefs'd him in the ftrongeft Terms to go : He told me the Commandant would not difcharge him 'till the Morning. I 5 then ( ! y. 1 i % m i \ 1 !l /j n\ i i :l Ii li (; 1^1 (34) then went to the Commandant, and defired him to do their Bufinefs; and complain'd of ill Treat- ment : For keeping them, as they were Part of my Company, was detaining me* This he prom- ifed not to do, but to forward my Journey as much as he could. He protefted he did not keep them, but was ignorant of the Caufe of their Stay ; though I foon found it out : He had promifed them a prefent of Guns, &c. if they would wait 'till the Morning. As I was very much prefs'd, by the Indians, to wait this Day for them, I confented, on a Promife, That nothing ftiould hinder them in the Morning. \(>th. The French were not flack in their In- ventions to keep the Indians this Day alfo : But as they were obligated, according to Promife, to give the Prefent, they then endeavoured to try the Power of Liquor ; which I doubt not would have prevailed at any other Time than this : But I urged and infifted with the King fo clofely upon his Word, that he refrained, and fet-ofF with us as he had engaged. We had a tedious and very fatiguing Paflage down the Creek. Several Times we had like to have been ftaved againft Rocks ; and many Times were obliged all Hands to get-out and re- main in the Water Half an Hour or more, get- ting over the Shoals. At one Place the Ice had lodged '•\ \ \ I } C35) lodged and made it impaflable by Water; there- fore we were obliged to carry our Canoe acrofs a Neck of Land, a Quarter of a Mile over. We did not reach Venango, till the 22d, where we met with our Horfes. This Creek is extremely crooked, I dare fay the Diftance between the Fort and Vetiango can't be lefs than 130 Miles, to follow the Me- anders. 22,d, When I got Things ready to fet-ofF, I fent for the Half-King, to know whether he in- tended to go with us, or by Water. He told me that White-Thunder h^d hurt himfelf much, and was fick and unable to walk ; therefore he was obliged to carry him down in a Canoe. As I found he intended to ftay here a Day or two, and knew that Mon(\t\xx y one aire would employ every Scheme to fet him againft the EngliJIi as he had before done; I told him I hoped he would guard againft his Flattery, and let no fine Speeches influence him in their Favour. He defired I might not be concerned, for he knew the French too well, for any Thing to engage him in their Behalf; and that though he could not go down with us, he yet would endeavour to meet at the Forks with Jofeph CampLell, to deliver a Speech for me to carry to his Honour the Governor. He told me he would order the young Hunter to attend us, and get Provifion, &c. if wanted. Our •iii 'H |l! (36) Our Horfes were now fo weak and feeble, and the Baggage fo heavy (as we were obliged to provide all the Neceffaries which the Journey- would require) that we doubted much their per- forming it : therefore myfelf and others (except the Drivers who were obliged to ride) gave-up our Horfes for Packs, to afTift along with the Baggage. I put myfelf in an Indian walking Drefs, and continued with them three Days, till I found there was no Probability of their getting home in any reafonable Time. The Horfes grew lefs able to travel every Day ; the Cold increafed very taft ; and the Roads were becoming much worfe by a deep Snow, continually freezing: Therefore as I was uneafy to get back, to make Report of my Proceedings to his Honour the Governor, I determined to profecute my Jour- ney the neareft Way through the Woods, on Foot. Accordingly I left Mr. Vanbraam in Charge of our Baggage ; with Money and Direftions, to provide Neceffaries from Place to Place for themfelves and Horfes, and to make the moft convenient Dipatch in Travelling. I took my neceffary Papers ; pulled-off my Cloaths ; and tied myfelf up in a Match Coat. Then with Gun in Hand and Pack at my Back, in which were my Papers and Provifions, I fet- out with Mr. Gift, fitted in the fame Manner, on ( 37 ) on Wednefday the 26th. The Day following, juft after we had palTed a Place called the Mur- dering-'Tovfn (where we intended to quit the Path, and fteer acrofs the Country for Shanna- pins Town) we fell-in with a Party oi French Indians, who had lain in Wait for us. One of them fired at Mr. Gift or me, not 15 Steps off, but fortunately miffed. We took this Fellow into Cuftody, and kept him till about 9 o'Clock at Night : Then let him go, and walked all the remaining Part of the Night without making any Stop ; that we might get the Start, fo far, as to be out of the Reach of their Purfuit the next Day, fince we were well affured they would follow our Trad as foon as it was light. The next Day we continued travelling till quite dark, and got to the River about two Miles above Shannapins. We expeded to have found the River frozen, but it was not, only about 50 Yards from each Shore : The Ice I fuppofe had broken up above, for it was driving in vaft Quantities. There was no Way for getting over but on a Raft : Which we fet about, with but one poor Hatchet, and finiflied juft after Sun-fetting. This was a whole Day's Work: we next got it launched, and went on Board of it : Then fet- off. But before wewere Half Way over, we were jammed in the Ice, in fuch a Manner that 1 1 we I C38) we expedted every Moment our Raft to fink, and ourfelves to perifh. I put-out my fetting Pole to try to ftop the Raft, that the Ice might pafs by ; when the Rapidity of the Stream threw it with Co much Violence againft the Pole, that it jirked me out into ten Feet Water: But I for- tunately faved myfelf by catching hold of one of the Raft Logs. Notwithftanding all our Ef- forts we could not get the Raft to either Shore ; but were obliged, as we were near an IHand, to quit our Raft and make to it. The Cold was fo extremely fevere, that Mr. Gi^ had all his Fingers, and fome of his Toes frozen ; and the Water was fhut up fo hard, that we found no Difficulty in getting-off the Ifland, on the Ice, in the Morning, and went to Mr. Frazier'%. We met here with 20 Warriors who were going to the Southward to War: But coming to a Place upon the Head of the great Kunnaway^ where they found feven People killed and fcalped (all but one Woman with very light Hair) they turned about and ran back for Fear the Inhabitants fhould rife and take them as the Authors of the Murder. They re- port that the Bodies were lying about the Houfe, and fome of them much torn and eaten by Hogs: By the Marks which were left, they fay they were French Indians of the Ottoway Nation, &c. who did it. As C 39 ) As we intended to take Horfes here, and it required fome Time to find them, I went-up about three Miles to the Mouth of Yaugkyaugh- gane to vifit Queen Alliquippa^ who had ex- prefled great Concern that we pafled her in go- ing to the Fort. I made her a Prefent of a Matchcoat and a Bottle of Rum ; which latter was thought much the beft Prefent of the two. Tuefday the i ft Day of January, we left Mr. Frazier's Houfe, and arrived at Mr. 6"^'s at Monongahela the 2d, where I bought a Horfe, Saddle, &c. the 6th we met 17 Horfes loaded with Materials and Stores for a Fort at the Forks of Ohio, and the Day after fome Families going- out to fettle: This Day we arrived at Wills Creek, after as fatiguing a Journey as it is pofli- ble to conceive, rendered fo by exceflive bad Weather. From the firft Day oi December to the 15th, there was but one Day on which it did not rain or fnow inceflantly; and throughout the whole Journey we met-with nothing but one continued Series of cold wet Weather, which occafioned very uncomfortable Lodgings ; ef- pecially after we had quitted our Tent, which was fome Screen from the Inclemency of it. On the 1 ith I got to Belvoir\ where I flopped one Day to take necefTary Reft ; and then fet out, and arrived in William/burgh the 16th; when I waited upon his Honour the Governor with the w ;>. ' m % r (40) the Letter I had brought from the French Com- mandant; and to give an Account of the Suc- cefs of my Proceedings. This I beg Leave to do by offering the foregoing Narrative as it con- tains the moft remarkable Occurrences which happened in my Journey. I hope what has been faid will be fufficient to make your Honour fatisfied with my Condudl ; for that was my Aim in undertaking the Jour- ney, and chief Study throughout the Profecu- tion of it. With the Hope of doing it, I, with infinite Pleafure fubfcribe myfelf. Your Honour's moft Obedient, And very humble Servant, G. Wajhington. COPY (41 ) COPT of his Honour the Governor's Letter y to the Commandant of the French Forces on the Omo,fent by Major Wafli- ington. SIR, THE Lands upon the River O/n'o, in the Weftern Parts of the Colony of Virginia, are fo notorioufly known to be the Property of the Crown of Great-Britain ; that it is a Mat- ter of equal Concern and Surprize to me, to hear that a Body of French Forces are eredling Fortrefles, and making Settlements upon that River, within his Majefty's Dominions. The many and repeated Complaints I have received of thefe A(fts of Hoftility, lay me un- der the Neceffity, of fending, in the Name of the King my Mafter, the Bearer hereof, George Wq/Iiington, Efq; one of the Adjutants Gen- eral of the Forces of this Dominion ; to com- plain to you of the Encroachments thus made, * and m t A\ ■•'^^ (42j and of the Injuries done to the Subjefts of Great-Britain, in open Violation of the Law of Nations, and the Treaties now fubfifting be- tween the two Crowns. If thefe Fadls are true, and you fhall think fit to juftify your Proceedings, I muft defire you to acquaint me, by whofe Authority and Inftruc- tions you have lately marched from Canada, with an armed Force ; and inva'l^d the King of Great-Britain s Territories, in the Manner com- plained of? that according to tht Purport and Refolution of your Anfwer, I may adl agreeably to the Commiflion I am honoured with, from the King my Mafter. However Sir, in Obedience to my Inftruc- tions, it becomes my Duty to require your peace- able Departure ; and that you would forbear profecuting a Purpofe fo interruptive of the Harmony and good Underftanding, which his Majefty is defirous to continue and cultivate with the moft Chriftian King. I perfuade myfelf you will receive and entertain Major Wajhington with the Can- dour and Politenefs natural to your Nation; and it will give me the greateft Satisfaftion, if you return him with an Anfwer fuitablc to my (43) my Wifhes for a very long and lafting Peace between us. I have the Honour to fubfcribe myfelf, S I R, Your moft obedient, Humble Servant, Robert Dinwiddie. William/burgh, in Virginia, ) Oaober 31ft, 1753. j TRANS- i' * (44) it TRAJ^SLATIOJ^ of a Letter from Mr. Legardeur de St. Piere, a principal French Officer, in Anfwer to the Govern- or's Letter. SIR, AS I have the Honour of commanding here in Chief, Mr. Wajliington delivered me the Letter which you wrote to the Commandant of the French Troops. I fhould have been glad that you had given him Orders, or that he had been inclined to pro- ceed to Canada^ to fee our General; to whom it better belongs than to me to fet-forth the Evi- dence and Reality of the Rights of the King, my Mafter, upon the Lands fituated along the River Ohio^ and to conteft the Pretenfions of the King of Great-Britain thereto. I fhall tranfmit your Letter to the Marquis Duguifne. His Anfwer wi'i be a Law to me ; and (45) and if he fhall order me to communicate it to you, Sir, you may be aflureu I ihall not. fail to difpatch it to you forthwith. As to the Summons you fend mc to retire, I do not think myfelf obliged to obey it. What- ever may be your Inftruftions, I am here by Virtue of the Orders of my General ; and I in- treat you, Sir, not to doubt one Moment, but that I am determin'd to conform myfelf to them with all the Exadlnefs and Refolution which can be expe<5ted from the beft Officer. I don't know that in the Progrefs of this Cam- paign any Thing has pafled which can be re- puted an Aft of Hoftility, or that is contrary to the Treaties which fubfift between the two Crowns ; the Continuation whereof as much in- terefts, and is as pleafing to us, as the Englijh. Had you been pleafed, Sir, to have def'-ended to particub.rize the Fafts which occafi d your Complaint, I ftiouH have had the lionour of anfwering you in " " fuUeft, and, I am per- fuaded, mofl jtadtory Manner. I made it my particular Care to receive Mr. WaJJiington, with a Diftinftiou fuitable to your Dignity, as well as his own Quality and great Merit. I flatter myfelf that he will do me this Juftice \ ' ! ! II (46) Juftice before you, Sir ; and that he will fignify to you in the Manner I do myfclf, the profound Refpeft with which I am, SIR. Your moft humble, and rooft obedient Servant, Legardeur de St. Piere. From the Fort fur La Riviere au Beuf, the i%th