to the Chiefs & warriors Lord Dorchester Speaks, deputed by the Confederated Indian nations of the Ottawes, Chippewas, Potawatamies, Hurons, Shawanese, Delawares, [undecipherable] & the Six Nations. Brothers, when I heard your Speeches yesterday on behalf of your Nations, I told you, that your words were of great moment, that I should weigh them, and give you an answer today. Brother, I am now ready. — Brother, you mentioned two Speeches yesterday, which you said had passed at a meeting with W[m]. McKee at the foot of the Miamie Rapids, and which you supposed I had received. — Brothers, Those Speeches have not reached me. I therefore called together some of your Chiefs last evening, and found that I had had some information of their general purport before by a letter from Gov[ernor]. McKee, in which he mentions that a meeting had taken place, which of informing you, that I should be glad to be instrumental in restoring peace between you and the United States, if it should be in my power, and that therefore you wished to know the terms on which you were disposed to make peace — Brothers, although in general I know your mind, on that subject, I wish to be accurate, and therefore shall order you an answer to be taken down at a convenient time, that there may be no mistake on the representation of your wishes to the King, your Father, to whom I shall give an exact account of your Situation, on my arrival in England. Brothers, you told me that when you were assembled at the Miamie Rapids, to treat of peace, the people of the States came in arms into your Country, intending to destroy you, that they had [undecipherable] being loaded and fired, they turned upon a sudden to the Wabash, ransacked your unprotected villages, massacred your old men, and carried off your women & children. Brothers, This was unfortunate, and I was very sorry to hear it. But I cannot tell whether those people know, that you were thus provoked to deliberate on the measures of peace — Brothers, you have told me, those were people who say, that the King, your Father, when he made peace with the United States, gave away your lands. Brothers, I cannot think the Government of the United States would hold that language to us, if well informed individuals. — Brothers, You will know that no man can give what is not his own, when making peace, and [undecipherable] to the United States, he made a treaty on which he marked out a line between them and his own; his empire he would not extend his enterprise — Brothers, The [undecipherable] would have been [undecipherable] long since, according to the [terms] of it [undecipherable] on the part of the States, but they sent out; The King therefore remains in possession of the [undecipherable] and will continue to hold them, until all differences between him and the States shall be settled. But Brothers, the line which the King then marked out between him and the States, from [undecipherable] the treaty had taken effect, and [undecipherable] your rights. Brothers, the King [undecipherable] respecting your territory with the Natives of Europe; those [were] also assigned to the States, but the King [undecipherable] any rights [undecipherable] against the best [undecipherable] [undecipherable] to have been [undecipherable] called by your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] thus can be [undecipherable] that was one way of [protecting] the [interests] of your people. [The] King has [undecipherable] every means [undecipherable] people to [undecipherable] your lands [undecipherable] without [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. I have ordered [undecipherable] [Superintendent] General [undecipherable], to be present at all treaties between you and the Colonial Government, to see that you fairly dealt with, bargains well [undecipherable] for both [undecipherable], never [undecipherable], and completed as [agreed] — Brothers, since then the King, your Father [undecipherable] that notwithstanding his care, there have been encroachments [undecipherable] by some of his people, that you were made [undecipherable], and that you had reason to complain [undecipherable]. He called the trading people of the [Colonies], between them and you. [The] [undecipherable] together, to [undecipherable] nations at Fort Stanwix, to settle the [undecipherable] and to fix a [undecipherable] boundary. — Now Brothers, say, as it [may] that [undecipherable], Father could use more to give away your lands, what [he has] [undecipherable] certainly [no] [undecipherable] and by no more [undecipherable] — Brothers, you reminded me of your [undecipherable] Father's [undecipherable] to [undecipherable] [undecipherable]. Brothers, the King has not [yet] got your [undecipherable] in the [undecipherable] together his [undecipherable] [Missing Page/s — Some or all of the pages of this file are wholly or in part missing, and we have not been able to locate a more complete copy of the document.] [undecipherable] volume that [undecipherable] with all the King, [undecipherable] and meeting is at peace with the [whole] world [undecipherable] remaining [undecipherable], according to [undecipherable] [undecipherable], that [undecipherable] cannot be broken without [undecipherable] and wrong [undecipherable] and surely [undecipherable], that through us they have [in] power to blow away, the [Indian] [undecipherable] friendship and good wishes, and [undecipherable] by the Indians [undecipherable] endeavour should be employed for that good purpose. Brothers, the [undecipherable] received, have [also] [undecipherable] we did not often expressed to you, and if they had not, you could have [prevented] them [from] being [undecipherable]. Now you know them from your own mouths. Brothers, You [see] that it is not in our power to begin a war. If we are attacked then we must [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] and may return hostilities. Brothers, you see that though we have not power to begin a war, you have our friendship and good wishes; and if we can be useful in procuring you a just peace with the United States, our best endeavours shall be employed for that good purpose. You see that the King has not forgotten you, that he is [undecipherable] of your conduct, and that he has called his [undecipherable] to take care of you, and to give you every mark of the bounty and [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] by your [undecipherable] [undecipherable] [undecipherable] nations. In a few days, I expect to go for my land. I am very glad I have had an opportunity of seeing you before, that I shall fully represent your wishes to the King, your Father — Brothers, I leave the command of this country, in the hands of Major General Clarke, who is just [and] will take care of you [as] I have done, for that is the will of the King on [matters] [undecipherable] benevolence [and] friendship [are] always the same, and [undecipherable] is the instrument of the King's power in this country, will always [fulfill] his intentions. Brothers, [Prince] Edward, Son of our King, who is just arrived with [undecipherable] of his [Majesty], to protect this country. I leave him [second] in command of all the King's [Armies] in Canada. He will also take care of you. — Brothers, It would give me great pleasure, while I am in England, to hear that peace is established in your country, upon a just & [solid] foundation, and that you live in comfort and security with your families, [undecipherable] your fields, & [undecipherable] your pursuits, to our mutual [undecipherable]. Brothers, I caution you not to [undecipherable] [of] this [desirable] object. Brothers, would I be instrumental in bringing this good work about, my pleasure would be still greater. — Brother, I wish health, wisdom & happiness to you and all your nations, whom you will [assure] of the friendship of the King, your Father, and of the affections of his [undecipherable], and his people in general, as well as my own in particular. Farewell, and may the Supreme Being protect you. — Delivered at Quebec, the 15^th day of August, 1791. — (Signed) Dorchester By his Excellency's command (Signed) Henry Metz —