[Enclosure 1.] N. B. The following narrative was annexed to the Copy of Captain Brants Speech, which Mr. Chew brought to the Administrator on the 30th Jany. 1797. By the particular wish of the Administrator and the Chief Justice (altho not obliged) I have given the above Explanation. And as I am fearful that some Suspicions are entertained of me, I will take the liberty to subjoin a few words. In the year 1794 I had the offer from the Americans of 11000 Acres of Land, which at this moment is selling at 8 Dollars, p Acre. At the time it was offered, it was worth on an average 2 dollars p Acre. Those offers I rejected, conceiving that something might be expected from me in Indian Affairs to the prejudice of the Indians and the British Government. The year 1785 I was offered £375 Halifax annually for my life time; I have also refused that. The Preemption right, a handsome Fortune of itself, I have also refused. I could numerate many others, but it would be taking up too much of your time. But I.must tell you, my reason for being so very urgent in this Business is from conceiving that it might have been done; as I had been pressed very much just before Governor Simcoe's Departure to conclude a Sale, as the person wanting to purchase told me "Sell it to me and I will get it confirmed, but do it before the Governor goes away." The same Proposals were made to me at Montreal last Summer by some of the first Merchants there. I conclude with an ardent wish that our Business may soon be settled to the satisfaction & comfort of a faithful People. No Signature Endorsed:-Copy of a Speech made by Captain Joseph Brant in behalf of the five Nations to Wm. Claus Esqr. S. J. J. A. at Newark 24th Novr. 1796. In Mr. Presdt. Russell's No. 7, of the 28th Jany. [Enclosure 2.] I have listened with a very attentive Ear to what you have said. But the business if of so serious a nature, that it would be imprudent in me to give you an Answer at present. in ffee that portion of their Land on the Grand River which they had prayed leave to dispose of—I have now the Honor of reporting to your Grace that Captain Joseph Brant, the Attorney of the five Nations, having in their name presented to me in Council on the 5th instant, in presence of the King's Attorney General, a Deed of Surrender for themselves & their Posterity of a certain Part of that Land amounting to 352,707 Acres, I accepted the same for His Majesty by the advice & Consent of the Executive Council; and, agreeable to the Promise I had made to the five Nations in July last, I signed at the Council Board five Deeds conveying 324, 195 Acres of that Portion to the Persons named in a Schedule annexed to the Instrument of Surrender, those Persons being all Subjects of the King residing within this Province. The five Nations having appointed the Acting Surveyor General, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs in this District, and Alexander Stewart Esqr. Barrister at Law, their Trustees to receive for their use Mortgages & other Securities for the Payment to them of the several & respective Considerations Stipulated; I have directed the Secretary of the Province not to issue to the Parties any of these Deeds, before they have delivered to him an order for so doing signed by each of the three Trustees. I have the Honor to transmit herewith for your Grace's Information, (A) copies of the Instrument of Surrender to His Majesty, the (B) Deed to be issued to a Nominee of the five Nations, and of my (C) Letter to the Secretary respecting the Cautions he is to observe in issuing those Deeds from his Office. And tho' I may thro necessity have deviated in some degree from the strict Letter of your Grace's Instructions, I humbly presume to hope that the Mode which I have adopted will not meet your Grace's Displeasure; since I trust it may be found to lead equally to promote the Common Interest of His Majesty, and those of the five Nations. I have the Honor to be with the Greatest Respect, My Lord Duke, Your Grace's Most Obedient & Most Humble Servant His Grace the Duke of Portland. PETER RUSSELL. Endorsed: Upper Canada, 20th Febry. 1798. Mr. President Russell R 7th June. No. 26. Ansd. 28th July (three inclosures two voluminous) [Enclosure 1.] N. B. The following narrative was annexed to the Copy of Captain Brants Speech, which Mr. Chew brought to the Administrator on the 30th Jany. 1797. By the particular wish of the Administrator and the Chief Justice (altho not obliged) I have given the above Explanation. And as I am fearful that some Suspicions are entertained of me, I will take the liberty to subjoin a few words. In the year 1794 I had the offer from the Americans of 11000 Acres of Land, which at this moment is selling at 8 Dollars, p Acre. At the time it was offered, it was worth on an average 2 dollars p Acre. Those offers I rejected, conceiving that something might be expected from me in Indian Affairs to the prejudice of the Indians and the British Government. The year 1785 I was offered £375 Halifax annually for my life time; I have also refused that. The Preemption right, a handsome Fortune of itself, I have also refused. I could numerate many others, but it would be taking up too much of your time. But I. must tell you, my reason for being so very urgent in this Business is from conceiving that it might have been done; as I had been pressed very much just before Governor Simcoe's Departure to conclude a Sale, as the person wanting to purchase told me "Sell it to me and I will get it confirmed, but do it before the Governor goes away." The same Proposals were made to me at Montreal last Summer by some of the first Merchants there. I conclude with an ardent wish that our Business may soon be settled to the satisfaction & comfort of a faithful People. No Signature Endorsed: Copy of a Speech made by Captain Joseph Brant in behalf of the five Nations to Wm. Claus Esqr. S. J. J. A. at Newark 24th Novr. 1796. In Mr. Presdt. Russell's No. 7, of the 28th Jany. [Enclosure 2.] I have listened with a very attentive Ear to what you have said. But the business if of so serious a nature, that it would be imprudent in me to give you an Answer at present. The Administrator Peter Russell Esqr. has told me that he had no Instructions whatever on the subject of your lands; but he has wrote home to His Grace the Duke of Portland His Majesty's Secretary of State, inclosing all your Papers; and to which he expects Answers in the course of May next; at the same time, expressed every wish to serve the five Nations as far as it was in his Power. As it appears nothing now can be done in your Business here; I shall immediately transmit the Paper you put into my Hands to the Superintendent General and Inspector General of Indian Affairs, that he may take such steps as he thinks will be best for the Interest of the five Nations. Endorsed: Copy of Captain Claus's Answer to Joseph Brant's Speech on the 24th Novr. 1796 sent to the Administrator on the 25th Jany. 1797 without being signed. In Mr. Presdt. Russell's. No. 7 of the 28th Jan. 1797. [Enclosure 3.] MOUNT DORCHESTER, 3rd Jany., 1797 SIR: Circumstances having in some measure committed me with Colonel Brant and the Six Nations of Indians, whose resentments may not wait for explnation untill my return, I beg leave to submit to your Honor the two papers inclosed which contain, I trust, a full Indication of my Sentiments and Conduct on this Occasion, of which you will have the goodness to make such use as the Protection of my Character and family may require. I am most respectfully Your Honour's &c. (Signed) His Honor PETER RUSSEL, Esqr., Administrator, &c., &c. WM. DUMMER POWELL. Endorsed: No. 1. Copy of Mr. Justice Powell's Letter to the Administrator dated 3rd Jany., 1797. Received in the Evening of the 4th Jany. In Mr. Presdt. Russell's No. 7 of the 28th Jany., 1797. [Enclosure 4.] The Six Nations of Indians are said to be dissatisfied that they cannot sell their land at Will and that a Council is summoned to deliberate on the Means of gratifying their wish. The subject is popular and interesting. The Case is reported to be that these Tribes adhering to the Royal Cause in the late rebellion, at its close were averse to return to their Ancient possessions, and that some of them principally Mohawks obtained a Tract of Country on the Grand River and another in the Bay of Quinty which the Crown bought of the Chippawa and Missasague Nations, and assigned to the Mohawks and their Allies. That at a late period the Chiefs of the Six Nations settled at the Grand River required some stronger Assurance for their land than the faith of the Crown, and a Deed in form was promised to them. That their State of Society giving rise to Some legal Difficulties, the nature of the Deed to be given underwent much discussion and that the Civil Lieutenant Governor thought it expedient to consult the Commander in Chief. That the Commander in Chief conceiving that any Engagement of his predecessor Sr. F. H.-by the King's order should be ratifyed even to exceeding transmitted to the Lieutenant Governor the Draft of a Deed; that this Draft which gave the land to the Six Nations indefinitely contained a Clause of Optional preference to the Crown on the Sale of Lands by them. That upon a further revision this Clause was given us by the Commander in Chief, and a sort of agreement was concluded between the interested represented by Colonel Joseph Brant and the Lieut. Governor. That the Government here should ratify the Sales of the Indians and give legal Deeds to the Purchasers for the portions sold to them. That on the strength of this Compromise Sales have been made to a large extent and the Government called upon to Confirm them by Deeds to the represented Purchasers, has paused and still Deliberates. These Promises combine many and broad Questions of Land and policy. To treat them as concisely as possible and lead to sound opinion, it is requisite after admitting the data to enquire, first, What could have been the true intent of the original Arrangement? Why that Arrangement did not continue Satisfactory to the Indians? In what respect the Government is bound to go further for their satisfaction? What Obsta |