town. Wm. Savery

and Wm. Hartshorne in our
absence, were visited by a Shawnese warrior, who
announced to them what had frequently been sug-
gested to us before, by divers persons, that if the
commissioners did not immediately agree that all
the land west of the Ohio should be given up by the
United States, or even hinted any thing to the con-
trary, by offering gifts or money as purchase, that
not one of them or their company would go off the
ground alive; for their fathers, who were all gone,
had sold lands for knives, rum, &c. till they were
now driven almost to the sun setting, where they
were determined to make a stand. He also pointed
out very sensibly, the sad effects strong drink had
on their fathers in general. He then appeared per-
fectly sober — informing that four days before he left
the Miami Rapids, a deputation of two chiefs from
a tribe, embarked for Niagara to meet the commis-
sioners, and let them know the outlines of their con-
clusions; and that if the white people would settle
to the banks of the Ohio on the east side, and agree
that the river should be the line, they would be glad,
and take them by the hand and call them brothers.
But we apprehended no such power lay with the
commissioners, nor of its being the design of govern-
ment, — the cloud looked dark and heavy, and por-
tended some dreadful scenes of desolation, except
the Lord should be pleased, in his abundant mercy,
to interpose and spare this wicked generation.

The aforesaid Indian, notwithstanding his sensi-
bility and calmness, about two hours after, returned
much intoxicated with rum — behaved very rudely,
and drew a stroke with his tomahawk at one Sylves-
ter Ash

, an interpreter, who had long resided with