My Lord,
The Iroquois , or Five Confederate Nations of Indians distinguished and known by that name, aresettled on the frontier of the Province of New-York . From the first reduction of this Provinceby the British arms, they entered into a strict alliance with the English , which they havealways inviolably observed. History perhaps cannot furnish an instance where a treaty of thiskind has been more faithfully adhered to. It subsisted upwards of an hundred years withoutany material breach on their part, if we will only except such as were drawn over to the French byPopish Missionaries, and who, on embracing their Religion, adopted their Civil Interests also.
Those Nations, ever since their union in a League of Confederacy , were greatly superiour in courageand military skill to the other Savages of North America . From that period, which commencedbefore we had any knowledge of this Province, they have been the terror of all the neighboringTribes, most of which they have subdued ; some they have entirely extirpated. The spirit of con-quest carried them far beyond the limits of their own native districts. They have extended theirempire over a tract of country 1200 miles in length, from north to south, and 600 in breadth, fromeast to west.
Their alliance with the English, naturally led them to take part with us when at war with France .The French have often severely felt the power of their Arms. The Iroquois have more than oncedefeated the united forces of the French , and their confederate Indians ; and have carried fire andsword into the very heart of their settlements, threatening them with utter ruin. They formed abarrier along our frontiers against the French and the Savages in their interest; and by this pro-tection, and the lucrative trade we carried on with them, they greatly contributed to raise thisProvince to its present flourishing state.
The Five Confederate Nations are the Mohawks , the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas and theSenekas. To these may be added the Tuscaroras, who moved some years ago from the south,were taken into the confederacy, and incorporated with the Five Nations .
The continual wars in which the Iroquois have been engaged, have considerably reducedtheir number from what it was formerly. This is particularly the case of the Mohawks . They,by their wisdom in Council and bravery in the Field, had gained an ascendancy over the other Tribeswhich they preserve to this day. In all deliberations which relate to the common interest of theconfederacy, and in the execution of every enterprise, the Mohawks generally take the lead. Beingsituated the most easterly, and consequently the nearest to our first Settlements, of any of theFive Nations ; the Missionaries sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in ForeignParts, to convert the Indians of this Province, resided among them. The labors of thoseMissionaries were attended with such success, that in time the whole Nation was brought over toChristianity. This attached the Mohawks more firmly to us. They always stood forth our faithfulallies ; especially in the late war, though in the course of it, the greater part of their bravestWarriors perished. Our victories were often purchased at the expense of their blood; for theywere among the first in almost every danger.