John Drinker
Concluding it will be satisfactory to our Friends
of the Meeting for
Sufferings to be informed how we spend our time
we desire thee to acquaint
them that we all met together the 27th.
of last
mo at Niagara; in the
neighbourhood whereof we found a
larger number of Friends than we expected;
had several Meetings
with them, and distributed the Books sent by us, which
were
very acceptable, and many more would be useful, as some
families
have neither Bible nor Testament in their houses.
The Commissioners being informed by Col. Mc.Kee
that the
Indians would not be collected so soon as was expected,
concluded
to stay at Navy Hall with Gov.
Simcoe until the return of Jasper
Parrish, by whom we hope to hear from our beloved
Friends. But
it was thought best for us to proceed to this place, where we
arrived
two weeks ago, & have the
opportunity of seeing many of the Indians
as they pass on to the conference
held by them preparatory to the
Treaty--a large body from very remote parts
appears to be collecting
some of them have expressed themselves in very
friendly terms, & we
hope the interviews we have had will help to open
the way in the
future progress of the business, which appears to us
increasingly im-
portant & delicate. The Reports that have prevailed
here for some
days past of Gen. Wayne's
Army having moved from Fort
Washington
to the Miami Plains, nearer to Sandusky, have excited jealousies
among the Indians. On the
whole our situation is exercising, &
requires Wisdom & Patience,
which it is our united desire we may
be favoured with.
We have had two Meetings in this place, and two on the other
side of the
River among some sober Germans & others, which we
believe were to
general satisfaction. The people here as well
as the Officers & Soldiers
of the Garrison are very civil & kind to us
and appear pleased with the
opportunity of information respecting