[Copy] To the Chiefs, and Warriors of the Six Nations assembled at Buffalo Creek. — Brothers, — Yesterday I sent your Message acknowledging for your delay in sending an Answer to the Speeches of the United States, the Speeches in which you were invited to meet me at Canandarqua. Brothers. I see your Chiefs have already your minds to General Chapin, that if any Nations desired to confer with you, they must come to your Councils fire at Buffalo Creek, that you had travelled about from Utica to Glen & taken great Pains to accomplish the good words of Peace. That your Voice of Peace had been heard thro' the whole Land, but was not regarded. That now you were grown weary, and were determined to shut your Gate, and live at your own Councils fire for those of any Nations who desired to treat with you. That having desired General Chapin to communicate to the President, his repeated interposures of your minds, you were surprised to find that he had doubted the Councils fire to be Canandaigua, you conclude with saying that you would continue unchanged, and therefore desire me to meet you at Buffalo Creek. — Brothers — The President is so wise Man, and by his wisdom he has desired me to kindle the Councils fire at Canandaigua. he knew you to have the meeting at Buffalo Creek, but he had sufficient reasons for desiring the Councils fire to be kindled there. I cannot alter his determination, which proceeds as well from his Authority concerning for the Interests of the Six Nations, as of the United States. Brothers. Your Runners told me when you used to meet Sir William Johnson, and you know that long before, as well as since his day, you have been accustomed to meet the white People, at a Councils fire where the Provisions and Necessarys for the sustenance and comfort of your bodies could conveniently be collected. the President not doubting of your readiness to comply with your former customs, is sending the Necessary supplies to be brought to Canandaigua, but they are not collected, and I have no Authority to remove them, nor can they be removed to any other Place. At this Place all the Six Nations have been invited to attend. Those who have not been at your Councils at Buffalo Creek, expect to assemble here. Your Eastern Brethren are now on their way here and will be unwilling to go any farther. the Quakers also whom you desired to attend the treaty, are now coming and expect to find you here. Returned the Runners the Strings they had delivered with their Message. — Brothers "Brothers — the Business to be transacted is of very great importance. It is not less interesting to you, than it is to the United States, indeed if our Negotiations are conducted so as to continue that Peace Friendship, which for two Years past has been happily subsisting between us. you will find the results more beneficial to your honor and treaty where has been held with you since the Nations first were United. Brothers I have now kindled the Councils fire at Canandaigua. It burns bright, and with these Strings I take you by the hands to lead you to the seat around it." A Branch of 6 Strings. "Brothers the Runners — Your now have my answer, to morrow I intend to send an Answer to Buffalo Creek, to receive the reply of the Councils here assembled. After a short consultation between the two Runners one of them took out of a Branch of two Strings, all white Delaware fied. Brother, When the Chiefs and Warriors at Buffalo Creek charged me with the Message which was delivered to you yesterday they directed us to tell you, that it was not me your power to order with them at Buffalo Creek, they would attend your Councils fire at Canandaigua, and if your say it they will attend you here, (as they are very desirous of [undecipherable] on this floor.) He then delivered his branch, 4 Strings The Message by the Runners was delivered to me here at Canandarqua on the 19^th Sept^r, the day of our arrival at Canandarqua, and my answer and their reply the same day. — [ sy^d] J. Pickering [docket, verso: T. Pickering / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable] / [undecipherable]]