Blue Jacket a War Chief of the Shawanoe Nation to his great Father of the Fifteen Fires — Father, Open your ears, and listen to what I shall say. Father, I speak to you in the language of truth, and request your particular attention — I need not tell you, how long I was attached to my late British Father over the Waters of the Ocean, nor how often I fought his battles on the Borders of our great Lake, for my name has been well known to your Nation. Father My eyes are now opened, and my heart has felt glad since I have been in friendship with my American Brethren. Father, I have been long deceived by the falsehoods of McKee and other British agents who have ever urged myself and my two Brethren to keep up the war against the fifteen fires, they have often told me not to trust to the Americans, that they only wished to get our lands and then drive us to the immense Waters of the West, that if I would cross the lake with them and go to Quebec I should be one of the first Men of their Nation, but I refused their intreaties. Father, Long have I been blinded to my own interest and that of my Nation but thank the great Spirit who sent that Bird whose spreading wings embraced our nation and diffused peace throughout our Country. Father, When I fought for the British, I fought with bravery and sincerity but since I have found them carrying on a deception among us for many years past, I have been determined to break asunder the chain by which we were held and dissolve the ties of friendship by which we were bound — I have seen my error in holding them so long fast by the hand and since have found a great difference between their friendship and that of my American Brethren. Father. Many years past I received from Sir John Johnston, British Superintendent of Indian affairs, a testimonial of my fidelity and [underline: attachment to the British Flag, this flattered me because I was sincere] in their cause, but being so long in the clouds of Darkness and guided by a deception which has ever attended their Councils, I have thrown them off and hope to be placed under the left arm of the United States there to be held as a sincere friend and Brother. Father. This testimonial which I beg you to read, I shall cast away and would be glad to receive from the United States a testimonial of my attachment to them. This I hope you will give me. Father. It shall be my study as it is my wish to instill into the minds of my young men and warriors the necessity of acting faithfully towards the United States and preserving inviolate the treaty of peace lately concluded between your great Warrior and my red Brethren. Father. I take you by the hand and hope you will believe what I have said to be truth. Father. I have accompanied one of the great Chiefs of our Nation to this City to see you he is now here and a good friend to the Americans. Done at Philad^o. November 1796.