PAPERS RELATING TO THE SIX NATIONS.
227
If Tour Excellency will condesend to favour us and The Design in these Respects we shallesteem it to be a singular Favour.
I have ordered David to make ready 8 or 10 likely Boys, such as you shall approve for this School,by that Time the rest of my Boys arive to you, by whom I shall send a Lad to accompany hitherthose he thus prepares for me, unless Joseph Woolley’s coming with them sho d prevent me.
And that Almighty God may support you under all your Toil & Labours for your King & Countryand late, very late, reward the same with himself is the Prayer of,
May it please your Excellency Your Excellency’s most
Obedient, and most Humble Servant
P. S.—Your Boys are all well excepting that little Elias received a bad blow with a Ballstickfrom one of his mates as they were playing together but he is in a way to be well soon.
REV D SAMUEL KIRTLAND TO SIR W“ JOHNSON .
Canesedage 1 17 June 1765.
Sir. I arriv’d safe here 30 th May, after a very fatiguing Journey receg little or no assistance frommy ungrateful Fellow Travellers.
I’ve answer’d y e two belts by which they demanded Provisions for ye Women & Children, Trade&c they have made no return. I apprehend are a little guilty & asham’d of y e mean part theyacted. The Sachem knew nothing of their sending y l large belt for Provisions &c. was surprisedto hear of their unreasonable demands. The Sachem and several others do really appear friendly,in general they treat me with no more respect than they would shew to a dog—but this is equal tome. I believe a little more Provision than I’m like to get here, will be necessary for my subsist-ence this summer. The Indians from above living so much upon this Town since y e general meet-ing, has created a great scarcity of Provisions. I suppose there is not 3 bushels of indian Corn iny e Castle, when I went from hence last spring they were well stored. Could I have a plenty offresh venison & bears flesh, I would do without bread, y e staff of Life, but to have little of either& y e most of y l little rotten, I think may be call’d coarse fare.
It was said in y e ancient puritanick times, y‘ man should not live by bread alone,—The Moderna ges it seems have degenerated, especially in these parts, for we are like to be denied any bread at all.
I design (god willing) to be down about twenty days from hence. I’ve wrote desiring Cap 1Butler to make ready Provision for me against my arrival, your Excellency approving y e same.I dont doubt but Rev d M r Wheelock would think it expedient, it will be to y® credit of y e Design,as well as my comfort & support. Tho’ success in my present undertaking be uncertain, I mustmake a trial of 3 or 4 years, y 1 1 may answer with a clear Conscience before Almighty God. Myobligations from without are considerable, but much greater from within. I submit it wholly to
1 Tor the site of this town also written Canadesagay, see Guy Johnson’s Indian Map in this vol. It is said that this■was the original name of Geneva, Ontario Co., but in the Col. Johnson’s Map , the Indian Castle is laid down 10 miles west°f the head of Seneca lake.