I am surprized that Governour Dinuidde would atempt to disprove the Message delivered your Excellency from the Five Nations last Spring (" which was that they at a general Meeting "at Onondaga had resolved not to go to Virginia, on said "Governours call, it not being custoiuary among them to meet or " treat of Affairs in the Woods and Weeds (as they expressed it,) " but desired he might be acquainted, that if he wanted to speak "with them and deliver His Majesty's present, as they understood " he intended, they would meet him at Albany and receive it, "where they expected your Excellency would be present,") by asserting that his Commissioners mett and treated with several of the Chiefs of the six Nations last May, at Logstown, and then delivered His Majesty's Present cto the^m, which he says they were much pleased w'.th. and that the Wampum which he sent to call

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 625

or invite the Six Nations fo the Conferrence was found remaining in Logstown, when the Commissioners came there last May. The uneasyness which his writeing to you in such a manner gave me, together with the necessity it laid me under of clearing up bO dark an Affair, put me on looking strictly into it, and after the closest inquiry I could possibly make, cannot learn that one of the Sachinis or Young Men of the Six Nations attempted even to go Virginia last year; They also declare that they have not received any of said Present, but they heard it was given to some Indians living about Ohio, Shawanees &c: which they don't seem well satisfied at. If the String of Wampum, which he was to call the Six Nation by, remained at Logstown, I must own I don't understand how they could receive his Message or Invitation, or return it' by me to your Excellency, it is obvious to all who are the least acquainted with Indian Affairs, that they regard no Message or Invitation be it of what consequence or nature it will, unless attended or confirmed by a String or Belt of Wampum, which they look upon, as we our Letters, or rather Bonds.