these youths may be sent back to their friends, which will probably excite jea lousy and distrust, and be attended with bad consequences, the commissioners for Indian affairs in the northern department, be authorized to receive out of the continental treasury, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, to be applied by them for the support of said Indian youths.

On motion made, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to devise ways and means to protect the trade of these colonies.

The following were chosen : Mr. Jay, Mr. Franklin, Mr. Gadsden, Mr. Deane, and Mr. Lee.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

Met according to adjournment.

The committee appointed to prepare proper talks to the Indians, reported the same, which was agreed to as follows:

A Speech to the Six Confederate Nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Tuscaroras, Onondagas, Cayugas, Senekas, from the Twelve United Colonies, convened in Council at Philadelphia.

BROTHERS, SACHEMS, AND WARRIORS,

We, the delegates from the twelve United Provinces, viz. New-Hampshire, Massachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Island, Connecticut, New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, the three lower counties of New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, and South-Carolina, now sitting in general Congress at Philadelphia, send this talk to you our brothers. We are sixty-five in number, chosen and appointed by the people throughout all these provinces and colonies, to meet and sit together in one great council, to consult together for the common good of the land, and speak and act for them.

Brothers, in our consultation we have judged it proper and necessary to send you this talk, as we are upon the same island, that you may be informed of the reasons of this great council, the situation of our civil constitution, and our disposition towards you our Indian brothers of the Six Nations and their allies. (Three Strings, or a small Belt.)

BROTHERS AND FRIENDS, NOW ATTENd,

When our fathers crossed the great water and came over to this land, the king of England gave them a talk: assuring them that they and their children should be his children, and that if they would leave their native country and make settlements, and live here, and buy, and sell, and trade with their brethren beyond the water, they should still keep hold of the same covenant chain and enjoy peace. And it was covenanted, that the fields, houses, goods and possesions which our fathers should acquire, should remain to them as their own, and be their children's forever, and at their sole disposal."

Trusting that this covenant should never be broken, our fathers came a great distance beyond the great water, laid out their money here, built houses, cleared fields, raised crops, and through their own labour and industry grew tall and strong.

They have bought, sold and traded with England according to agreement, sending to them such things as they wanted, and taking in exchange such things as were wanted here.

The king of England and his people kept the way open for more than one hundred years, and by our trade became richer, and by a union with us, greater and stronger than the other kings and people who live beyond the water.

All this time they lived in great friendship with us, and we with them.; for we are brothers-one blood.

Whenever they were struck, we instantly felt as though the blow had been given to us-their enemies were our enemies.

Whenever they went to war, we sent our men to stand by their side and fight for them, and our money to help them and make them strong.

They thanked us for our love, and sent us good talks, and renewed their promise to be one people forever.

Brothers and friends, open aA KIND EAR!

We will now tell you of the quarrel betwixt the counsellors of king George and the inhabitants and colonies of America,

Many of his counsellors are proud and wicked men.-They persuade the king to break the covenant chain, and not to send us any more good talks. A considerable number have prevailed upon him to enter into a new covenant against us, and have torn asunder and cast behind their backs the good old covenant which their ancestors and ours entered into, and took strong hold of.

They now tell us they will slip their hand into our pocket without asking, as though it were their own; and at their pleasure they will take from us our charters or written civil constitution, which we love as our lives-also our plantations, our houses and goods whenever they please, without asking our leave.-That our vessels may go to this island in the sea, but to this or that particular island we shall not trade any more. And in case of our non-compliance with these new orders, they shut up our harbours.

Brothers, this is our present situation-thus have many of the king's coun sellors and servants dealt with us. If we submit, or comply with their demands, you can easily perceive to what state we will be reduced.-If our people labour on the field, they will not know who shall enjoy the crop.-If they hunt in the woods, it will be uncertain who shall taste of the meat or have the skins.If they build houses, they will not know whether they may sit round the fire, with their wives and children. They cannot be sure whether they shall be permitted to eat, drink, and wear the fruits of their own labour and industry. BROTHERS AND FRIENDS OF THE SIX NATIONS, ATTEND,

We upon this island have often spoke and intreated the king and his servants the counsellors, that peace and harmony might still continue between us-that we cannot part with or lose our hold of the old covenant chain which united our fathers and theirs-that we want to brighten this chain-and keep the way open as our fathers did; that we want to live with them as brothers, labour, trade, travel abroad, eat and drink in peace. We have often asked them to love us and live in such friendship with us as their fathers did with ours.

We told them again that we judged we were exceedingly injured, that they might as well kill us, as take away our property and the necessaries of life.We have asked why they treat us thus? What has become of our repeated addresses and supplications to them? Who hath shut the ears of the king to the cries of his children in America? No soft answer-no pleasant voice from beyond the water has yet sounded in our ears.

Brothers, thus stands the matter betwixt old England and America. You Indians know how things are proportioned in a family-between the father and the son-the child carries a little pack-England we regard as the father-this island may be compared to the son.

The father has a numerous family-both at home and upon this island.-He appoints a great number of servants to assist him in the government of his family. In process of time, some of his servants grow proud and ill-natured— they were displeased to see the boy so alert and walk so nimbly with his pack. They tell the father, and advise him to enlarge the child's pack-they prevailthe pack is increased-the child takes it up again-as he thought it might be the father's pleasure-speaks but few words-those very small-for he was loth to offend the father. Those proud and wicked servants finding they had prevailed, laughed to see the boy sweat and stagger under his increased load. By and by, they apply to the father to double the boy's pack, because they heard him complain-and without any reason said they-he is a cross child-correct

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him if he complains any more. The boy intreats the father-addresses the great servants in a decent manner, that the pack might be lightened-he could not go any farther-humbly asks, if the old fathers, in any of their records, had described such a pack for the child-after all the tears and entreaties of the child, the pack is redoubled-the child stands a little, while staggering under the weight-ready to fall every moment. However he entreats the father once more, though so faint he could only lisp out his last humble supplication-waits a while no voice returns. The child concludes the father could not hearthose proud servants had intercepted his supplications, or stopped the ears of the father. He therefore gives one struggle and throws off the pack, and says he cannot take it up again-such a weight would crush him down and kill him -and he can but die if he refuses.

Upon this, those servants are very wroth-and tell the father many false stories respecting the child-they bring a great cudgel to the father, asking him to take it in his hand and strike the child.

This may serve to illustrate the present condition of the king's American subjects or children.

Amidst these oppressions we now and then hear a mollifying and reviving voice from some of the king's wise counsellors, who are our friends and feel for our distresses, when they heard our complaints and our cries, they applied to the king, also told those wicked servants, that this child in America was not a cross boy, it had sufficient reason for crying, and if the cause of its complaint was neglected, it would soon assume the voice of a man, plead for justice like a man, and defend its rights and support the old covenant chain of the

fathers.

Notwithstanding all our entreaties, we have but little hope the king will send us any more good talks, by reason of his evil counsellors; they have persuaded him to send an army of soldiers and many ships of war, to rob and destroy us. They have shut up many of our harbors, seized and taken into possession many of our vessels: the soldiers have struck the blow, killed some of our people, the blood now runs of the American children: They have also burned our houses and towns, and taken much of our goods.

Brothers! We are now necessitated to rise, and forced to fight, or give up our civil constitution, run away and leave our farms and houses behind us. This must not be. Since the king's wicked counsellors will not open their ears, and consider our just complaints, and the cause of our weeping, and hath given the blow, we are determined to drive away the king's soldiers, and to kill and destroy all those wicked men we find in arms against the peace of the twelve United Colonies upon this island. We think our cause is just; therefore hope God will be on our side. We do not take up the hatchet and struggle for honor and conquest; but to maintain our civil constitution and religious privileges, the very same for which our forefathers left their native land and came to this country.

BROTHERS AND FRIENDS!

We desire you will hear and receive what we have now told you, and that you will open a good ear and listen to what we are now going to say. This a family quarrel between us and Old England. You Indians are not concerned in it. We don't wish you to take up the hatchet against the king's troops. We desire you to remain at home, and not join on either side, but keep the hatchet buried deep. In the name and behalf of all our people, we ask and desire you to love peace and maintain it, and to love and sympathise with us in our troubles; that the path may be kept open with all our people and yours, to pass and repass, without molestation.

Brothers! we live upon the same ground with you. The same island is our common birth-place. We desire to sit down under the same tree of peace with

you: let us water its roots and cherish its growth, till the large leaves and flourishing branches shall extend to the setting sun, and reach the skies. Brothers, obSERVE WELL!

What is it we have asked of you? Nothing but peace, notwithstanding our present disturbed situation-and if application should be made to you by any of the king's unwise and wicked ministers to join on their side, we only advise you to deliberate, with great caution, and in your wisdom look forward to the consequences of a compliance. For, if the king's troops take away our property, and destroy us who are of the same blood with themselves, what can you, who are Indians, expect from them afterwards?

Therefore, we say, brothers, take care-hold fast to your covenant chain. You now know our disposition towards you, the Six Nations of Indians, and your allies. Let this our good talk remain at Onondaga, your central council house. We depend upon you to send and acquaint your allies to the northward, the seven tribes on the river St. Lawrence, that you have this talk of ours at the great council fire of the Six Nations. And when they return, we invite your great men to come and converse farther with us at Albany, where we intend to re-kindle the council fire, which your and our ancestors sat round in great friendship.

BROTHERS!

Brothers and Friends!

We greet you all farewell. (The large belt of intelligence and declaration.)

We have said we wish you Indians may continue in peace with one another, and with us the white people. Let us both be cautious in our behaviour towards each other at this critical state of affairs. This island now trembles, the wind whistles from almost every quarter-let us fortify our minds and shut our ears against false rumors-let us be cautious what we receive for truth, unless spoken by wise and good men. If any thing disagreeable should ever fall out between us, the twelve United Colonies, and you, the Six Nations, to wound our peace, let us immediately seek measures for healing the breach. From the present situation of our affairs, we judge it wise and expedient to kindle up a small council fire at Albany, where we may hear each other's voice, and disclose our minds more fully to each other.

(A small belt.)

Ordered, That a similar talk be prepared for the other Indian nations, preserving the tenor of the above, and altering it so as to suit the Indians in the several departments.

The Congress then proceeded to the choice of commissioners for Indian affairs, and after some debate, agreed that the nomination of commissioners for the southern department be postponed till Tuesday next.

Mr. Franklin, Mr. Henry, and Mr. Wilson, were unanimously elected for the middle department.

The Congress then proceeded to elect the commissioners for the northern department, and the following gentlemen were chosen, viz: major-general Philip Schuyler, major Joseph Hawley, Mr. Turbot Francis, Mr. Oliver Wolcott, and Mr. Volkert P. Douw.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

FRIDAY, July 14, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Congress resumed the consideration of the report of the committee on the militia, and after debate, the same was referred for farther consideration. Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

SATURDAY, July 15, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

On motion made, the Congress came to the following resolution : Whereas, the government of Great-Britain hath prohibited the exportation of arms and ammunition to any of the plantations, and endeavored to prevent other nations from supplying us:

Resolved, That for the better furnishing these colonies with the necessary means of defending their rights, every vessel importing gun-powder, salt-petre, sulphur, provided they bring with the sulphur four times as much salt-petre, brass field-pieces, or good muskets fitted with bayonets, within nine months from the date of this resolution, shall be permitted to load and export the produce of these colonies, to the value of such powder and stores aforesaid, the non-exportation agreement notwithstanding; and it is recommended to the committees of the several provinces to inspect the military stores so imported, and to estimate a generous price for the same, according to their goodness, and permit the importer of such powder and other military stores aforesaid, to export the value thereof and no more, in produce of any kind.

Sundry intercepted letters were laid before the Congress and read.

The talk to the Stockbridge Indians was then taken up, and the same being debated, was agreed to.

On motion, Resolved, That the Congress will, on Thursday next, attend divine service in a body, both morning and afternoon.

Ordered, That Mr. Lynch, and Mr. Dickinson, wait on Mr. Duche, and Dr. Allison, and request Mr. Duche to preach before the Congress on Thursday next, in the morning, and Dr. Allison in the afternoon.

Adjourned till Monday at eight o'clock.

MONDAY, July, 17, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

A letter from general Schuyler, being laid before Congress, was read, and the same being taken into consideration,

Resolved, That a commissary of stores and provisions be appointed for the New-York department, during the present campaign.

Walter Livingston, esq. chosen to that office.

Resolved, That a deputy quarter-master-general be appointed for the said department.

Donald Campbell, esq. elected to that office.

Ordered, That Mr. D. Campbell, have the rank of colonel in the army. Resolved, That a deputy muster-master be appointed for the said department. Gunning Bedford, esq. elected to that office.

Resolved, That the convention of New-York be desired to recommend to general Schuyler, a proper person for a deputy adjutant-general or brigademajor, for the army in the New-York department.

Adjourned till to-morrow at eight o'clock.

TUESDAY, July 18, 1775.

Met according to adjournment.

The Congress again resumed the consideration of the report of the committee for putting the militia into a proper state for the defence of America, and the same being debated by paragraphs, was agreed to as follows:

Resolved, That it be recommended to the inhabitants of all the United English Colonies in North-America, that all able bodied effective men, between sixteen and fifty years of age in each colony, immediately form themselves into regular companies of militia, to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four serjeants, four corporals, one clerk, one drummer, one fifer, and about sixty-eight privates.