Letter Signed

Letter from the Reverend Samuel Kirkland to Secretary of War Henry Knox on Indian delegation to Philadelphia; British views on boundary lines

Kirkland reports that he has arrived with a complete delegation of Chiefs and Warriors of the Five Nations with exception of Fish Carrier and a village on Allegheny. Praises Farmer's Brother and Little Billy for their alliance with U.S. Although the delegation is large, because of the critical situation, it is justified. Could not diminish the numbers without giving offense. They refused to attend council at Niagara, where they could have been loaded with presents. Now to deny them a journey to congress would give them umbrage. British say the boundary between two powers should be between Genesee to Ohio River and its junction with Mississippi River, to be discussed with Congress later. Fortress to be built at Grand River in Canada and near Detroit, where Indians shall be encouraged and protected. Settlements on Ohio River, particularly Fort Franklin and Marrietta, will be harassed in early spring. Asks to send Colonel Porter to meet him at Bethlehem. Is fatigued and worn down. Wants to avoid insult of delegation by inhabitants.

1792

02

25

Kanandaigue

Cited in Kirkland to Knox, 03/07/1792.

Cited document addressed to the War Office

Henry Knox

Samuel Kirkland

Colonel Porter

Five Nations

Fish Carrier

Little Billy

British

Congress

War Office

Kanandaigue

village on Allegheny

Five Nations

Niagara

Genesee

Ohio River

Mississippi River

War Office

Philadelphia

Bethlehem

Grand River

Settlements on Ohio river

Canada

Ontario

Upper Canada

Fort Franklin

Marrietta Ohio

Britain

Indian delegation to Philadelphia 1792

British view of boundaries between United States and British Canada

1792022540001

1

4

To Genl Knox from
Kanandaiqua
Feb 25th 1792
Kanandaique Febry 25th 1793
Sir,
after surmounting many difficulties I have the honor to inform you, that I arrived here on wednesday [undecipherable] with about forty Chiefs & warriors, a complete representation of the five nations, the Fish carrier & one village on the Alleggany execepted. They desired to rest & confer [drawn small triangle inserted here] for a day or two we shall provide in our rout way to Congress early this morning.- The Farmer's Brother, Little Billy & ten others are from the Buffaloe-. much praise is due to the Farmer's Brother & Little Billy, for their exertion in the Buffaloe settlements to preserve there in a strait alliance with the US--You may at first view think me imprudent in allowing admitting so large arepresentation to go down which will considerably inhance the expenses but the critical situation of affairs in this quarter [&c] jealousies subsistg among the Inds I believe will fully justify me in the extraordinary expense Indeed my utmost exertion with the aid of several of their Chiefs could not diminish the number without giving offence & perhaps wholly frustrating the object
They have refused to attend their councils at Niagara where they might have been loaded with presents-& now to deny them of priviledge of a visit to Congress with whom they profess to be in a strait alliance, would injure give them umbrage. While this delegation from the five nation are down
When you come fully to be made when so soon as I shall be favorered with an opportunity to acquaint you fully with the present situation of the Indians & the opposition that has been made to their going down you will rather be surprized wonder that I ever obtained a single Indian--& would rather have had an hundred 500, than to fail of the delegation
The British at Niagara hold out this idea, that the U.S. are not able to pay their debts refund the confiscated tory Estates & therefore a new boundary line must be made betwixt the two powers. & this line will be from the Genesee to the Ohio & from there to its junction with the Mississippi & that [undecipherable] EnGn W [Harrison?] to negotiate this business with Congress th & at another time, that they shall build erect a fortress at Grand River--& another opposite to Detroit when the Indians shall be encouraged & protected--this latter is indian report--the former, is talked of as a serious matter at Niagare & its vicinity.
The settlements in the Ohio, particularly Mariotte & Fort Franklin I am very apprehensive will be harrassed by the
Indians very early in the spring--
I am I should be much obliged to you Sir if your good you would send Col Proctor, to meet me either at Bethlahem or Wyoming--I am exceedingly worn down by fatigue & almost un[undecipherable] application but in good spirit heart after all.-The matter of the last importance that the delegation go down without any insult from the inhabitants--