May it please yo r Excell. In obedience to yo r Excell. order of the 7 th instant we underwritten have mett & considered

about the properest methods for bringing both those Indian Nations viz 1 the Onondages and Oneydes that are fled,

and renewing with them and the rest of the Five Nations the Covenant Chain, and

having thereupon sounded the opinions of the Sachims of the Maquaes and Oneydos Nations and severall of their chiefe

men now at Albany, do humbly offer as our opinions that since we are informed that it is now twelve dayes ago the French army left the Indian Countrey and that the Senekes and Cayouges are still undisturbed in their own country that the Onnondage Nation upon the approach of the enemy have set their own Castle on fire and all fledd to be out of the enemy's reach, that the Oneydes Nation have in like manner left their Castle and great part of them already are come in here to Albany for reliefe in their wants of provision and ainmunicon &c. and that the Maquaes Nation or great part of them are in the like manner come in hither, We cannot perceive that [Vol. I.]

COUNT FRONTENAc's EXPEDITION AGAINST THE ONONDAGAS.

it can be any great service to

send any great body of men now to the Upper Nations, who are seated

at that distance from hence, neither can any men be well spared from Albany, here being only tlrree establisht companyes in garrison with a detachment of yo