LIST OF SUPPLIES. Articles wanting to compleat the supplies of Indian Presents for the Upper Posts and Visiting Indians for the years 1790 & 1791. Seven thousand nine hundred needles. Two thousand Pounds Carnot Tobacco. One hundred & Thirty one pair two Point Blankets. One hundred & sixty five pair Two and a half Point Blankets. Extra Articles that may be required to be taken from the above two years supplies to Pay the Purchase of Lands ordered Three hundred pair of three point Blankets. Seventy Five Beaver Traps. SIR I have lately had intelligence of hostile Designs of the Hurons and other Indians, intended to be executed, in the course of the Winter, against Detroit, and those Indians of the six Nations, and others, headed by Joseph Brandt, who profess a determination to adhere to the resolutions of the general confederacy of the Indians, and to resist the encroachments of the Americans upon the Indian Country. One of the roman catholic missionaries to the Indians at Detroit is said to be principally concerned in this plot, and to have been instrumental in alienating the minds of those people. Although full credit is not due to these reports, in their present shape, I thought it expedient to put the Commandments of the Western posts, and the Militia of those Districts, upon their guard, and to give Directions for Inquiry to be made into the truth of them, and for such measures to be taken as our security might require, and the season permit, sending at the same time, under cover to the Commandant, to be used as Discretion may direct, admonitory Letters to both the Missionaries at Detroit, to the Chiefs of the Hurons, and a pastoral letter to the Roman Catholic people of the Settlement of Detroit at large, from the Canadian Bishop of Quebec, who has been missionary at Detroit for some years, and has influence among the Indians, as well as the Canadian Settlers and traders in those parts. I am with much respect & esteem Sir Your most obedient & most humble servant The Right Hon'ble W. W. Grenville DORCHESTER Endorsed :-Quebec 10th November 1789 Lord Dorchester No 10 R'd 21st Dec'r By the Caroline [Q 43 part II page 658.] MINUTES LAND BOARD District of Hesse 7th of December 1789Present Patrick Murray Esquire Major in the 60th Regiment of Foot Commanding Detroit and its Dependencies &c &c &c. William Dummer Powell Alexander McKee William Robertson & Alexander Grant Esquires The Board considering the views of Government towards the Settlement of this District and at the same time preserving due regard to the comfort of the native Indians a cession of all that tract of Land commencing at the entrance of the Channail Ecarté on the River St. Clair running up the main branch of said Channel to then a due east line to the River a la Franche,* up the River la Franche to its source, or until it strikes upon the Boundary of the last purchase from the Messasages, bounded by the waters of the River and Lake St. Clair, Detroit and Lake Erie. Indian Affairs M. G. II a true extract from the minutes T. SMITH River La Franche, now the Thames. C. M. B. CAPTAIN PARR TO MR. LE MAISTRE. MICHILIMACKINAC 26th Decem'r 1789. SIR, Being informed that some Indians at this post complained that the Interpreter who is Store Keeper to that Department, gave them bad Rum, I immediately sent for him to know the reason, When he said that he had mixed a quantity of water with it, as it had ever been the custom to do so, and shewed me some in the state he gave it; as I was convinced such conduct cou'd not be justifiable and suspecting that it was carried on to a great degree from the instance before me, I desir'd to see some in the state he received it from the Commissary; this he could not produce, he having taken by his own acknowledgement Eight Gallons of Rum out of a Barrel he had a few Days before received, and substituted Water in its place; to which when he drew off any to give to Indians, he again added a third more water, thereby making an advantage which as I am confident is not justifiable I think my Duty to Report, for the information of the Commander in Chief and to say that I shall prevent as much as possible such improper practices for the future. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient, and most humble servant Francis Le Maistre Esq'r (signed) J. PARR. Capt 60th Reg't Commanding at Mackina. Endorsed :-In Lord Dorchester's to Mr. Grenville No 56 Dated 17th Oct'r 1790. [Q 46 part II page 427.] D. ANTONY WAYNE TO CHIEFS OF THE DELAWARES &C To the Chiefs and Warriors of the Delawares, Shawanoes, Miamis Nations or Tribes of Indians and to all others to Whom it may Concern. BROTHERS. I have received your Verbal Message sent by Stephen Young, George Whiteeyes and another warrior who were accompanied by Robert Wilson as your Interpreter. If peace is your object and the wish and desire of your hearts, why did not you or some of the principal Chiefs of your Nation or Nations come forward and speak for yourselves. The Ears and heart of the President of the United States (General Washington) are ever open to the voice of peace, and he has instructed me his chief warrior to listen to that welcome voice from whatever quarter it may come, provided it comes from proper Authority and from the heart. But as you have only sent a Verbal Message by your Runners, and as the Delawares, Shawanoes, Miamis and Wyandots have for a long time shut their ears and hardened their hearts, so as not to permit that good voice to enter or to be heard, Altho: often repeated at different times and by several paths and strongly and loudly re-echoed by the Commissioners of Congress, and by all the Chiefs of the Six Nations assembled in Council at the Rapids of the Miami of the Lake last summer. It will now be necessary that you give Convincing proofs of your sincere wish and desire for peace by bringing in and delivering up all and every of the American or White prisoners now in your possession to the Officer Commanding at Fort Recovery or on the same ground where the action of the 4th Nov'm 91 took place, and that on or before the next full moon which will be on the 14th February or in the course of thirty days from and after this date, and immediately send off Runners to call in and restrain all and every of your warriors from committing any murder or murders, Robberies or depredations upon any of the Inhabitants or Citizens of the United States, or upon any escort, party or parties of troops on their way to or from any of our posts or Garrisons wheresoever or whatsoever. In the meantime the path shall be kept open, so that you may have free Communication between your Towns and Fort Recovery the late field of Battle, the only path by which you can come, always taking care to show a White Flag which my warriors are ordered to pay particular respect to, and to receive you as friends and to guard you safe from harm to danger both in coming to that place and from thence here and in returning to your Towns. The foregoing conditions being punctually complied with upon your part, I shall then be convinced of your peaceable dispositions, and my heart and Arms will be open to receive and meet you at this place on or before the 14th February the day above mentioned in order to fix and determine upon a proper time and place for holding a general treaty. In the meantime it is to be well and perfectly understood that the progress of this Army is not to be retarded or molested in its advancing but shall be permitted to move peaceably and quietly with all its apparatus, provisions, and stores, and every article and thing necessary for holding the Treaty. Thus will the door be opened for establishing a permanent and lasting peace founded upon former Treaties and on the Solid Basis of honor, Equity, and Justice and to the Mutual Interests and entire satisfaction of all parties. And thus will the War Hatchet be burried so deep that it can never again be found. Major General Commander in Chief of the Army of the United States of America Grenville 10 Jan'y 1790. [C 247 p 55] FROM MR. GAUTIER UNADDRESSED SIR I had yesterday the honor of writing you and of transmitting you my returns & my Journal since the departure of Mr Dease I have refrained till this to make my observations concerning the Indian Department at this post it is extremely restrained & occasions a dissatisfaction among the nations, principally among domiciled Ottawas & Sauteaux who are the principal Indians in this country and who lead all the others. At the time of their arrival at this post, they could have nothing until after they had been in Council, the time when the Commandant orders what is necessary to be given to them, the principal chiefs went to the Interpreter who could not avoid giving them some pipes, some tobacco and something to drink, at his own expence because the Commandant would not give on this occasion what is a real loss to the Interpreter and which absorbs his pay. I have seen him many times mix a quart of rum to eight gallons so as to have with me in the house something to give them to drink without which they would not be content. The Captain has made it a crime and has told me that he will make his complaints to government, I doubt not that he has done so already but I expect from you a regulation on this subject, and observe to you that it will not be possible to preserve with honor my place & sacrifice my moderate salary to a necessary expence and which should only be considered by the Department. Another subject is the coal which is necessary for the blacksmith of the department as by my orders it is forbidden for me to draw and I cannot pay for the goods of the department, and for which order it is necessary to have the approbation of the commandant, which has been refused me on this subject, I ignore that usage & take my right. There are still some indispensibles which are not in the store as to-day some snow shoes & some shoes for the messenger to Detroit, inform me what |