Ninth month 24th,[1803.] About 10 o'clock, many
of
the chiefs and others collected and seated themselves
around a small
fire which was kindled in the open
yard, and sent us word they were ready,
about sixty
in number. We then went and sat with them. After
a short
pause Conudiu
our safe arrival in their country, and said they were
thankful to the Great Spirit who had preserved us in
our long journey to see them, and more which I can
not well recollect, much to the same purport. Corn-
planter
then had our certificate read and interpreted to them,
which is as follows: To Cornplanter
Indians living on the Allegheny River; Brothers:
Our friends who live amongst you inform us they have
conferred with
you some time past about removing to set-
tle some distance farther
up the river, on some of the land
you lately sold to the white
people; which we understand
they and some of you think might enable
them to be still
more useful to you than where they now live.
"Brothers, we are desirous every movement we make
amongst you may be
well considered and so conducted as
to always keep the chain of
friendship clean and bright
between us; for which reason we think it
right at this
time to send some of our brethren to help to consult
and
confer on this business, and our friends Isaac Coates,
Isaac Bonsal,
feeling their minds clothed with love toward you, are wil-
ling to undertake this long journey. We hope you will re-
ceive them as brothers, and listen to their words, for they
are true men and sincere friends to your nation.
"Brothers, our hearts are made glad to hear from our
friends amongst
you that you are beginning to live more
comfortably on the fruits of
your labor, under the blessing
of the Good Spirit; and we more
especially rejoice to hear
that your chiefs and young men generally
refrain from
the use of strong liquors, which you know have been
so
destructive to Indians as well as many white people. We
hope
you will be strengthened by the Great Spirit to perse-
vere in the
good resolution you have taken on this subject.
"Brothers, we desire the Good Spirit may be with you
and influence
you and our friends in your councils, on the
weighty subjects which
may come before you; that so
everything may be settled and conducted
to mutual satis-
faction and to the furtherance of our designs of
being last-
ingly useful to you."
(Signed by) DAVID BACON,
After the foregoing certificate was read and ex-
plained to them, evident
marks of assent were dis-
coverable, and we having concluded upon and
drawn
up an address to them on the important contem-
plated removal of
our young men, it was also read to
them by paragraphs and interpreted as
follows:
To Cornplanter
Seneca Nation
Brothers:
You have heard the speech which our friends at
home have sent to you
by us. We now wish you to
speak your minds to us quite plain, and if
there is
anything which does not feel easy to you, that you
will
tell it to us.
Brothers, we have seen the speech made by you
to our friends who live
among you, at one of your
late councils, by which we understand you
leave
them at full liberty to move up the river to settle
on
land joining to yours.
Brothers, since we came here we have been
viewing the land, and think
if the Holland Company
will sell us a piece on Tunesasah Creek that it will be
a suitable place for our friends to settle upon; they
will then still be among your settlements.
Brothers, when our friends first came to settle
among you, we told
you the tools they then brought
should be for your use, to be lent
among such of you