branch of peace. The Great Spirit seems disposed to incline us all, for the future, to repose under its grateful shade, and wisely enjoy the blessings which attend it."

Mash-i-pi-nash-i-wish, chief of the Chippeways, rose and addressed the General thus:

"Elder Brother! I have heard your words, and have received great pleasure from them. I never make long speeches; what I have to say, I say in a few words. Look at your warriors around you, and view ours. Does it not give you pleasure to see us all met here in brotherly love?

"Elder Brother! You may believe what I say, and what I am going to say. As we are here on good business, our hearts must dictate what our tongues express. The Great Spirit knows when we speak truth, and punishes falsehood. As you have told us, we are to rejoice: I have a favor to ask of you, compliance with which will prepare our hearts for the occasion. We would wish to rescue from death, two of your young warriors, whom we brought in to you, who, as we hear, are to die. I entreat you in the name of all present, to spare their lives, and pray you to indulge us in this request." [A white and blue string.]

Te-ta-boksh-ke, king of the Delawares, thus spoke:

"Elder Brother! I thank you for having kindly explained to us what will take place to-morrow. Our young men shall all be informed of it. We thank you for your attention to us. We will sincerely rejoice on the happy occa

sion."

The General replied:

"Brothers! I have heard your words, and will answer you presently. As I never speak without deliberation, you may depend on what I say.

"Brothers! I have considered your request, respecting the two warriors condemned to die. I will now answer you. The two men condemned to death, are not those whom you brought to me; but two very bad men from another quarter. I desired this good man," (Dr. Jones, the Chaplain,) "to pre

pare the minds of these men for the awful change they are about to experience. We put no man to death, without giving him time to repent, and to whiten his heart. The lives of the two men whom you brought in, although very culpable, are now granted to your humane entreaties. That you may all remember that the Americans rejoice tomorrow, and on every succeeding anniversary of it, I present each nation with a string of white wampum. We will now retire and hope to-morrow's dawn may be propitious." [Wampum.]

On the 4th of July, A-goosh-a-way, and twenty-three Ottawas, from the vicinity of Detroit, arrived and had audience. The General addressed them:

"Brothers! I take you all by the hand. I am happy to see you. You must be hungry and dry. I will order you refreshments to make your hearts glad. The hearts of your brothers are also made glad this day. I will no longer detain you from taking that repose of which you seem to stand in so much need. I deliver this string as a proof of my happiness in seeing you." [A white string.] A-goosh-a-way spoke as follows:

"Brother! Those nations who are now represented at this meeting, are probably all you may reasonably expect. As for the Shawanees and Wyandots of Detroit, I do not believe they will come. I frequently told them they ought to advance without hesitation; but they still continue irresolute, and hover around their enemies, the British. I cannot discover the motives which actuate the Wyandots. The Six Nations sent two letters, prevailing on me to await their junction; but finding they delayed, and suspecting their sincerity, I came away without waiting long for them."

July 9th. In council-Present, the chiefs of the Delawares, Ottawas, Chippeways, Pottawattamies, Miami and Wabash tribes.

The General rose and addressed them as follows:

"Younger Brothers! I take you all by the hand, and welcome you to this council-fire. Viewing the number of nations who last winter signed the preliminary articles, I perceive all are present, except the Wyandots of Sandusky, and the Shawanees. It is now twenty-five days since the council-fire was kindled at this place. It has continued to burn bright; and it has happily dissipated the clouds, which have hung over the people of Sandusky. They now see that the sky is clear and serene: that the roads are open, and free of thorns. Four runners arrived from them last evening, to announce to me, the near approach of all the chiefs of the Wyandots, and others of Sandusky. The intelligence which these messengers have brought me, is this: that the dark cloud which enveloped the Shawanees, in the neighborhood of the British posts, (for that, my brothers, is a very cloudy place,) has also been dispelled; that they have, at length, awoke from their intoxicated slumber, and are now on their feet, coming to this place. They, and the Wyandots, etc. of Sandusky, may be expected to arrive here, in the course of three days. The question then is: shall we now name the day, on which to begin the great and good work, or shall we wait the arrival of those chiefs, and have their united voice on the subject. This is all I shall propose at present, until I hear your respective opinions."

The Little Turtle made some remarks to the other chiefs, on the General's speech, and gave them some reasons why the fixing of the day should be postponed.

A-goosh-a-way, an Ottawa chief, rose and said:

"Elder Brother! I am much obliged to you for requiring our opinions on this matter. 'Tis true, as the Little Turtle has observed to us, that we have been here a long time waiting; but it will be best to remain contented a few days longer, that we may begin the good work all together. I now present you our pipe, and hope that you and your warriors will smoke it.

"Elder Brother! You see that all your chiefs, as well as

ours, have smoked out of this calumet of peace; and the Great Spirit is well pleased to see it. The calumet does not now speak; it remains silent, until the arrival of our brothers, who are on their way."

The General rose and said:

Younger Brothers! Twenty-five days ago, the calumet of peace, of the fifteen fires, of the United States, was smoked in this house. It did not then speak; and it yet remains silent. I am pleased to hear you all concur in opinion, with the Little Turtle, that we should wait the arrival of our brothers, the Wyandots and Shawanees. I therefore propose that we shall meet again at this place on Monday next."

[A white string to each nation present.] Council adjourned to Monday the 13th.

On Monday, July 13th, at the request of the Wyandot chiefs, who arrived on the 12th, and others, the meeting proposed for that day, was postponed until Wednesday the 15th, some necessary regulations among them not having been decided on.

CHAPTER XI.

Commencement of the negotiations in full council.-Introductory speech of General Wayne.-Speeches of the Chiefs of the different tribes.-Progress of the negotiations.

ON Wednesday, July 15th, the Council assembled agreeably to adjournment. Present, the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, Chippeways, Pottawattamies, Miamies, and Wabash tribes. The council being opened, and the council-fire uncovered, interpreters were sworn in; after which the General addressed the Indians thus:

"Younger Brothers! These interpreters whom you have now seen sworn, have called the Great Spirit to witness that they will faithfully interpret all the speeches made by me to you, and by you to me; and the Great Spirit will punish them severely hereafter, if they do not religiously fulfil their sacred promise.

"This is the calumet of peace of the fifteen fires of the United States of America. I shall first present it to The Soldier (Wabash tribe) who first took us by the hand, as I do not know yet which nation among you is in future to have the precedence. The next were the Wyandots, who came forward last fall, early; the next were the Ottawas, Chippeways, Pottawattamies, and Sauckeys; and the next were the Delawares.

"Younger Brothers! All the chiefs and warriors of the different nations present! I now take you all by the hand. It was my wish to have waited for the arrival of the Shawanees, Wyandots of Detroit, and some Chippeways, who, I learn, are on their way; but as it is the desire of the chiefs