To George Washington from Seven Nations Chiefs, 4 February 1796
From Seven Nations Chiefs
Caknawage February the 4—1796
Brother—
We hope that the grate Spirit be plsed to so order it that, the Bearers hearof, Sent and Inpowerd by us Chiefs of the Seven Nations and Chief wariers, yong men Women and Children in Councill and all agreed as one, we hope the[y] m[a]y have the plshure of finding you in perfect halth as the[y] leve us at present1
Brother—
We are Sencible that your will not think it strang for us to Send our depitues to you as we have Informd you of the reason last fall from the treaty at Fort g⟨eorge⟩ which our Brother of the state of New york ⟨mutilated⟩ our Brothe Coln Wadsworh sent by you p⟨rom⟩ised us that they would inform you all that ⟨mutilated⟩ betwixt us at the treaty hald thare.2
Brother—
When we parted with our Brothers last faul ⟨mutilated⟩ told us the thought is was not Nesery for so me ⟨mutilated⟩ thare Brothers to Come on Busness—we Co⟨mutilated⟩ on the matter and Joins with them in opineo⟨mutilated⟩ that reason have Sent these fore depit⟨ues on⟩ behalf of us Chiefs of the seven Nation⟨s.⟩
Brother—
We have put the minds of our harts ⟨mutilated⟩ and the[y] will enfold them to you—⟨mutilated⟩ our wishes may be taken in to good C⟨mutilated⟩ and a good path made for Brother and ⟨mutilated⟩en to walk in hearafter.
Brother—
We have no more to Say by way of pen and ink only that we wish for angreement to the Setesfaction of you and us Brothers—through our depitues and Begs it as a Brotherly favour that thay may not want for a comfortble refreshment while with you—So no more but pray for a long and a happy Life for our Grat and honourable Brother Onatagamas Gorge Washington President—of the united States.
D, NHi: Miscellaneous Manuscripts.
1. The bearers presumably were the four deputies who signed the 31 May 1796 treaty between the Seven Nations of Canada and the United States: “Ohaweio, alias Goodstream”; “Otiatokarongwan, alias Col. Lewis Cook”; “Teharagwanegen, alias Thos. Williams”; and “William Gray” ( 45–46).
2. Jeremiah Wadsworth promised in his speech closing the treaty at Fort George on 2 Oct. 1795 that he would carry a letter from the chiefs to GW and “faithfully report all our proceedings at this Treaty” (CtHi: Jeremiah Wadsworth Papers). The letter (not found) was delayed in composition, but Wadsworth enclosed it with his letter to Timothy Pickering of 1 Nov. 1795 (CtHi: Jeremiah Wadsworth Papers).