Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II

It would Savour more of Huraariiy than

SIR WILLIAM JOHNSON. 985

to send him as a Slave to the West Indias, whilst any doubts remain concerning his People or Origin.

I am Sir, Your most Obedient Humble Servant Golds Borrow Banyar Esq"* W. Johnson.

My Compliments to the Cheif Justice & let him know that I have sent his letter by a Safe Hand to M^ Lyne.

SIR W^. JOHNSON TO LORD HILLSBOROUGH.

Johnson Hall August 9th 1771.

My Lord,

I was lately honored with your Lordships Letter (N" 16) which I delayed answering for some days, that I might at the Same time acq' y'" Lordship with the Issue of a Congress I was then about to hold with the Six Nations, which was occasioned by Informations received by my Deputy at Fort Pitt from a Shawanese Indian & others. The Substance of which was that the Six Nations, were concerned in Exciting the Shawanese, Delawares, & many others to make war upon us, & altho this had been formerly propagated without any just grounds or foundation, I judged it best policy to Call the Chiefs to a Congress thereon, in order to shew, that such designs by whatsoever nation carried on, could not be totally concealed from us, which might prove a Check on the nation that first excited it, and render them Suspicious of each other.

The Chiefs only were Summoned, but many more attending to the number of 350. I opened the Conference the 14th ult" which held for several days; -- I began by acquainting them with the obligation they were under to give me the earliest Information that was in any wise Interesting, & that I was Surprized to hear from another quarter of some dangerous Transactions v,"^^ miglit prove the ruin of those concerned, adding that I expected to have the certain particulars from them. -- On their appearing ignorant of what I