Embassy to the Western Indians, Etc.
Item
Type
Contemporary Copy of Letter
Title
Embassy to the Western Indians, Etc.
Description
Pickering discusses the embassy to the Western Indians, land surveying, and a letter's mistranslation.
short description
Embassy to the Western Indians, Etc.
year created
1791
month created
07
day created
21
author
sent from location
Wilkes-Barre
recipient
in collection
in image
note
A copy bound within Indian treaties, p. 94.
notable person/group
Henry Knox
Timothy Pickering
Reese
Little Billy
William Ogden
Red Jacket
William Maclay
Judge Hardinburgh
Ephraim Webster
Captain Hendrick
Parrish
Sansom
chiefs
practical land surveyor
Senators of the United States
agent they had chosen
Indians
reputable men
Oneida
superintendent or agent
Six Nations
Seneca
Western Indians
hostile Indians
York Line
Samuel Ogden
notable location
Newtown Point
Wilkes-Barre
Seneca country
notable item/thing
duplicate
letter
message
peace belts
lodged
certificate
council
surveying
certificate of his good character
real appointment from the President
Indian choice
rough grounds
profession of surveying
services he might render them
compensation
writing for the Indians
unfit for employment for want of capacity
bribery and deception
certificate of his good character
deposition of Ephraim Webster
his opinion
enquiries
measure was opposed by others
further attempts from them to restore peace would have no effect
their importunities
weakness and fear
authority of the United States
visit to the Western Indians
departure was so long delayed
enclosed letters by friends
duplicate of Capt. Hendrick's letter and my answer
queries
arrangement be approved
notable phrase
It is important to keep unworthy men from any kind of agency with the Indians.
Call the chiefs together.
The interpretation which had been before given to them had no relation to the contents of that letter.
After he was ready to set out he waited three days at the request of some chiefs of the Six Nations who proposed that they should send by him a message to the hostile Indians.
He waited first to get information from some of his acquaintances & friends who lived in the Seneca country.
Call the chiefs together.
The interpretation which had been before given to them had no relation to the contents of that letter.
After he was ready to set out he waited three days at the request of some chiefs of the Six Nations who proposed that they should send by him a message to the hostile Indians.
He waited first to get information from some of his acquaintances & friends who lived in the Seneca country.
document number
1791072140001
page start
1
number of pages
4
transcription
Letter to Genl Knox
Wilkesbarre July 21.1791
a copy bound up in
Indian Treaties O.P.
Letter to Gen.l Knox
Wilkesbarre July 21, 1791
To Genl Knox, copy of [undecipherable]
July 21. 1791--a copy bound up with Indian Treaties p. 94-O.P.
Wilkesbarre July 21. 1791.
Sir
I expected to have sent the pending inclosed letter by Friends Parr & Sansom, from Newtown Point; but they were so obliging asto wait for me, and Friend Parrish & I
we arrived here together last evening, in a canoe the left Newtown Point (instant about 120 miles as the river runs) the 18th, at about 5 o'clock P.M. in a canoe and arrived here, in a canoe, last evening.
I now inclose a duplicate of Capt. Hendrick's letter and my ansswer, as well as of his queries aan my answers, so that you may send them by different conveyances, if (as I said before) the arrangement be approved.
It is to be regretted that Captain Hendrich's departure was so long delayed: but he waited first to get information from some of his acquaintances & friends who lived in the Seneca country; not knowing but it might be expedient to advize with them Senecas was the Six nations generally on the subject of this visit to the Western Indians. But after making his enquiries, he appeared to be confused in his opinion--that they did not merit his confidence. Nevertheless, after he was ready to set out, he waited near three days, at the request of some Chiefs of the Six Nations, who proposed that they should send by him a message to the hostile Indians; but the measure was opposed by others, who said that any further attempts from them Six Nations to restore peace would have no good effect; on the contrary, they supposed it would do hurt, by leading the Western Indians to ascribe their importunities to weakness and fear. No message was sent the Oneidas manifested their good will, by furnishing goods, some peace belts to Capt. Hendrick; [undecipherable]
The Six (or rather 5) nations have afficiously chosen a [super?]
three papers inclosed. one, the deposition of Ephraim Webster. It another a certificate of his good character signed by Judge [undecipherable]Hardenburgh (formerly in the Yorke line of the army) and other reputable men; and the third a copy of certain Hendrick queries and my answers, another copied by Mr Reese at my request, when I was much harried, from a very fair copy draught which I had written for Capt. Hendrick to take with him: a common school boy you will see, would copy more correctly. I
[new paragraph symbol] While waiting for the Indians, I had lodged several days in the same house with him; and as soon as I heard of his endeavors to get into favour with the Indians, I [Undcipherable] [undecipherable] with a view of getting the appointment of Superintendent if I pronounced him unfit for the employment, for want of capacity, I did not then suspect him of bribery and deception except that bribery, so easy to practise successfully with Indians, at offering treating the dangerous with [men?], or giving it when requested. The deception I refer to was, on the offering to their view & getting [undecipherable]interpreted to them a certificate (as [undecipherable] I had heard it called) to [undecipherable] having) from William MacClan McCay Esq [undecipherable] of the Senators of the U States, recommending him, (as it was represented to me) as a fit person to be chosen by the Indians for thier agent. & at the next [undecipherable] council, I told the Indians that it was proper for me to inform them, that the agent they had chosen was merely their own agent & not the agent of the United States; and that for any services, he might render them they (the Indians) must make him compensation; or he must perform them for nothing.--Red Jacket then said, as an [apology?] for their proceedings, that he had been well recommended to them by Mr. Maclay; and then he handed me the supposed certificate to prove it. But what was my surprise when I found it they if [undecipherable phrase called) to be a letter, written last May, by from Mr. Maclay to Samuel Ogden Esq. you in which he mentions that Mr. Reese a [undecipherable prhase] as a practical land surveyor, and a gentleman well or sufficiently acquainted with his professions of surveying or especially in rough ground, he had been
answer, he must first call the Chiefs together. I then told him I would read it to him. It was read and interpreted: He & Little Billy were surprised; and said the the interpretation which had been before given to them, had no relation to the contents of that letter!
It was by accident that I heard of Webster's story. I then I was the morning after the Indians had disclosed their choice of Reese for their agent. I took his deposition of the facts: but made no secret of it. Websters deposition. To invalidate it, his veracity was called in question. I then asked Webster if he had not on his arrival with the Onondaga Indians shown me a certificate of his good charater! He produced it & I took the is [undecipherable] copy inclosed.
I have [undecipherable] you this As it is important to keep unworthy men from the I any kind of agency with the Indians I trust you will think this long detail not unnecessary and I transmit it now, less there should be a much zeal & diligence to procure a confirmation real appointment from the President, as had been used to obtain their [share/shame?] the Indian choice.
I am &c
T.P.
Wilkesbarre July 21.1791
a copy bound up in
Indian Treaties O.P.
Letter to Gen.l Knox
Wilkesbarre July 21, 1791
To Genl Knox, copy of [undecipherable]
July 21. 1791--a copy bound up with Indian Treaties p. 94-O.P.
Wilkesbarre July 21. 1791.
Sir
I expected to have sent the pending inclosed letter by Friends Parr & Sansom, from Newtown Point; but they were so obliging asto wait for me, and Friend Parrish & I
we arrived here together last evening, in a canoe the left Newtown Point (instant about 120 miles as the river runs) the 18th, at about 5 o'clock P.M. in a canoe and arrived here, in a canoe, last evening.
I now inclose a duplicate of Capt. Hendrick's letter and my ansswer, as well as of his queries aan my answers, so that you may send them by different conveyances, if (as I said before) the arrangement be approved.
It is to be regretted that Captain Hendrich's departure was so long delayed: but he waited first to get information from some of his acquaintances & friends who lived in the Seneca country; not knowing but it might be expedient to advize with them Senecas was the Six nations generally on the subject of this visit to the Western Indians. But after making his enquiries, he appeared to be confused in his opinion--that they did not merit his confidence. Nevertheless, after he was ready to set out, he waited near three days, at the request of some Chiefs of the Six Nations, who proposed that they should send by him a message to the hostile Indians; but the measure was opposed by others, who said that any further attempts from them Six Nations to restore peace would have no good effect; on the contrary, they supposed it would do hurt, by leading the Western Indians to ascribe their importunities to weakness and fear. No message was sent the Oneidas manifested their good will, by furnishing goods, some peace belts to Capt. Hendrick; [undecipherable]
The Six (or rather 5) nations have afficiously chosen a [super?]
three papers inclosed. one, the deposition of Ephraim Webster. It another a certificate of his good character signed by Judge [undecipherable]Hardenburgh (formerly in the Yorke line of the army) and other reputable men; and the third a copy of certain Hendrick queries and my answers, another copied by Mr Reese at my request, when I was much harried, from a very fair copy draught which I had written for Capt. Hendrick to take with him: a common school boy you will see, would copy more correctly. I
[new paragraph symbol] While waiting for the Indians, I had lodged several days in the same house with him; and as soon as I heard of his endeavors to get into favour with the Indians, I [Undcipherable] [undecipherable] with a view of getting the appointment of Superintendent if I pronounced him unfit for the employment, for want of capacity, I did not then suspect him of bribery and deception except that bribery, so easy to practise successfully with Indians, at offering treating the dangerous with [men?], or giving it when requested. The deception I refer to was, on the offering to their view & getting [undecipherable]interpreted to them a certificate (as [undecipherable] I had heard it called) to [undecipherable] having) from William MacClan McCay Esq [undecipherable] of the Senators of the U States, recommending him, (as it was represented to me) as a fit person to be chosen by the Indians for thier agent. & at the next [undecipherable] council, I told the Indians that it was proper for me to inform them, that the agent they had chosen was merely their own agent & not the agent of the United States; and that for any services, he might render them they (the Indians) must make him compensation; or he must perform them for nothing.--Red Jacket then said, as an [apology?] for their proceedings, that he had been well recommended to them by Mr. Maclay; and then he handed me the supposed certificate to prove it. But what was my surprise when I found it they if [undecipherable phrase called) to be a letter, written last May, by from Mr. Maclay to Samuel Ogden Esq. you in which he mentions that Mr. Reese a [undecipherable prhase] as a practical land surveyor, and a gentleman well or sufficiently acquainted with his professions of surveying or especially in rough ground, he had been
answer, he must first call the Chiefs together. I then told him I would read it to him. It was read and interpreted: He & Little Billy were surprised; and said the the interpretation which had been before given to them, had no relation to the contents of that letter!
It was by accident that I heard of Webster's story. I then I was the morning after the Indians had disclosed their choice of Reese for their agent. I took his deposition of the facts: but made no secret of it. Websters deposition. To invalidate it, his veracity was called in question. I then asked Webster if he had not on his arrival with the Onondaga Indians shown me a certificate of his good charater! He produced it & I took the is [undecipherable] copy inclosed.
I have [undecipherable] you this As it is important to keep unworthy men from the I any kind of agency with the Indians I trust you will think this long detail not unnecessary and I transmit it now, less there should be a much zeal & diligence to procure a confirmation real appointment from the President, as had been used to obtain their [share/shame?] the Indian choice.
I am &c
T.P.
Item sets
Document instances
| In image | In source | Location in source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [view document] (4 pages) | BBB02 (4 pages) | Collection: Timothy Pickering Papers | B:2, F:2. |
Document names
| Type | Name | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author | Timothy Pickering | Wilkes-Barre | [n/a] |
| Recipient | Henry Knox | [unknown] | [n/a] |