appeared well constructed, and capable of doing
a great deal of business. We also paid a visit
to John Sergent

their treasurer, presented our bill
of advance toward their mill, and were inform-
ed there was not enough money in his hands to
settle it: we also discovered that he had in-
dulged hopes, notwithstanding the clearness of our
article, of retaining a considerable part of what
was in his hands, for some other appropriations
to him more desirable: we gave him to under-
stand, when we entered into articles, we always
expected to fulfill them, on our parts, and wished
others to do so by us: adding that our design
was to assist and encourage them in getting
a mill, which we had effected, and if govern-
ment had advanced nothing towards it, we should
not have been hard on them, about their deficien-
cy in regard to fulfilling their part of the agre-
ment, but as government had now advanced
so considerable a sum, we were most easy to
receive our own, agreeable to the article, and appro-
priate it to those of their brethren who appeared
more necessitous. He readily acknowledged
the justness of this conclusion, and agreed to at-
tend at Oneida on third day next, in company
with such of the Stockbridge chiefs and others as
were concerned in this business in order to
have it settled.