Your Fire now burns clearly at the old place, The Tree of shelter, and protection is set up and flourishes, I must now insist upon your quenching that Fire made with Brambles at Swegachey, and recall those to their proper home who have deserted thither, I cannot leave disswadeing you from goeing to Canada, the French are a delusive People always endeavouring to divide you as much as they can, nor will they let slip any opertunity of makeing advantage of it ; 'tis formidable news we hear that the French and some Indians are makeing a descent upon Ohio, is it with your consent or leave that they proceed in this extraordinary manner, endeavouring by force of Arms to dispossess your own Native Allies, as well as y^ Bretheren the English, and establishing themselves. A Large Belt.

sir william johnson. 635

Bretheren of Onondaga --

I must remind you of a new Custom lately introduced verry inconvenient for our mutual interest, that is, when you receive news from the Westward, Southward, or any other Quarter, you send it from one Castle to another, till it arrives quite altered from what it was at first. I therefore require you hy this Belt of Wampum to follow the old Custom, and send it as far as you intend it should go directly by some of your own Nation

A Belt. Bretheren of the Seneca's --

As you have always been looked upon as the door of the Six Nations, where all news, especially from the westward, and southward must enter, and go out, we dont hear this Door open as we used to do formerly and beUve it to be worn out, and think it necessary to hang on a new one of such Wood as will never decay, the noise of which when it opens, should alarm all the Confederacy, I must now desire you, that whatever you hear of Consequence, you would send it verry distinctly to the Sachims of Onondaga, who will send it directly to your Bretheren, I require also as you are nearest the Western Tribes of Indians that you will endeavour all in your power to draw as many of them into our interest as possibly you can, by which means the Six Nations may continue their strenght and credit A Belt.