They cannot keep together a great while, and I expect they will quit all this part of the country, and retire over the lakes Ontario and Erie. Their whole number is about 6000, of which 1000 are warriors -- how contemptible compared with their former greatness ! The leading men of these Six Nations, or what they call Chiefs, were on the road with me going to Buffalo Creek, to hold a council ; their object I was informed was to use their influence with the hostile tribes to make a peace. This will have no effect ! Power is the influence with Indians ; this alone will give us peace. I see some of the Indians who fought the battle at the Miami ; and by an interpreter received a very tolerable account of the action ; they were of opinion that our troops did not do their duly.

Col. B. told me that the only way to make a peace with the Indians was to apply to Lord Dorchester, or the commander in chief at Quebeck, and let him appoint some of the Commanders of the

1110 PAPERS RELATING TO

garrisons, say Detroit, Niagara, &'^, to meet on the part of the ])ritish, to draw a line that shall be deemed right and reasonable between the Americans and Indians, and have the treaty guaranteed to the Indians by the British. I spurned at the idea, and told Col. Eullcr, that it was ray wish, whenever America became so contemptible, that the whole country might be annihilated.