Author
Johnson, Jacob W.
Date17 October, 1768
ms number768567
abstractJohnson writes with news about the Congress at Fort Stanwix.
handwritingHandwriting is informal yet mostly legible. Johnson
frequently neglects to pick up his pen between words. The trailer that is
cut off
by a tear in the paper is in Wheelock's hand; the other is in an unknown
hand.
paperLarge sheet folded in half to make four pages is in good-to-fair
condition, with light-to-moderate staining, creasing and wear. There is
preservation work done on particularly worn areas.
inkBrown ink is faded in spots.
noteworthyManuscript 768576.1 appears to be an addition to this
document.
Modernized Version
Deletions removed; additions added in;
modern spelling and capitalization added; unfamiliar abbreviations expanded.
I doubt not but you will be glad
to hear from the Congress — I have sir Done every
thing I could both by Prayer consultation
and applica‐
tion — I have consulted
Col.
Butler. —and others — I have
laid the cause before Sir
William Johnson
personally and
by an address in writing
subscribed by Messrs.
David Avery
and
myself (For
Deacon Thomas went Home not well)
A copy of which I enclose which you will please to
preserve (for I have no other copy, and the original
is in
Sir
William's
possession) I have opportunity to con‐
verse with the chief gentlemen here as
Governor Frank‐lin of the
Jersey
Governor Penn
Mr. Peters of
Philadelphia
and others many others — I could be heartily glad you sir
was here you would be received
most
honourably
and affectionate
I can assure you your name is often mentioned with
a great deal of respect by Sir
William
Johnson
Governor
Franklin
and others —
Governor Penn is gone Home but before
He went I took an opportunity to confer with Him
about setting up an Indian College on the
Susquehanna or somewhere
thereabout He told me He had seen
Dr.
Whitaker
and his request of a considerable Tract of Land
and that the affair was sent Home to the Proprietors I asked
Him if he thought the proposals
would be granted He said He
thought not — I asked Him if the proprietors
would not
part with a tract of Land for that purpose He said He believed
not as requested — will they said I upon any Terms He
said yes as they sold it to others upon no other terms
replied I He answered no He believed not or to that
purpose — I asked Him if the proprietors
would
not come to some agreement with the
New England
purchasers
on the
Susquehanna He said yes as they would with any other
purchasers and upon no other Terms said I He answered
no — . I conferred with
Mr. Peters of
Philadelphia upon the subject — He thought great care should be taken to
choose
such a place to set up an Indian
academy as
might not interfere with any other public School or
occasion
discontent or envy or the Like lest it shouldn't
answer the design —and besides He thought few of the Indians
would ever do for missionaries that in general it was not
worthwhile to do more for them than to learn them
to read and write and be industrious
etc. I conferred
Sir william upon the same
subject what His opinion was
about it— He thought it a Laudable and very good design — I
asked Him where He thought
best to set up the School
His Excellency said He supposed that affair was sent Home already
and
determined — I informed his Excellency It was now in agi‐
tation and
preparation to be sent — But I supposed not yet
gone — I asked Him where He thought the most proper
place to set it — He replied he supposed in or near
Alba‐ny — I mentioned
Pennsylvania He said He supposed the
proprietors wouldn’t part with their Lands for that pu
[gap: tear][guess: rpose] upon any other Terms than they would to others
— I mentioned
Coos —He thought that too much a one
side — I mentioned
Pittsfield — His Excellency
asked if
they had any considerable of Lands etc. for that pur‐
pose — I told his Excellency they would
subscribe in
Lands and money a thousand pounds and more He smiled
and
made no reply only that
Col. Williams was proprietor
there etc. etc.— upon laying the enclosed
address before
Him when He had read it he asked me where I
would have the Bounds of the provinces
restricted I told
Here especially at the
Oneidas He said that was at the Indians
election whether they would part with their Lands or no
At present He couldn't tell no more than I could where
the division Lines would run when all the chiefs were
come together He should know and not before — and
that He should be as tender of the Indians
interest as I
or any other friend could be to them — that it was
easy for
designing men to get away their Land by insinuating
themselves into their favour together with a few Gifts good
words etc. that many too many had done it For the Indians
in general valued not their Lands — and much were
passed
between Him and me alone — (which I have not time or
room to write for Paper is here so
scarce that 12 sheets
has cost me as much as 2 quire in
New England
and with great
difficulty I have got so much and
used half of it already)—
But said He viz
Sir
William upon the conclusion he should
make open proclamation of the Doings of the Congress that
all might know and in the meantime that I
might have further opportunity to confer upon
these things — And sir I must
confess that
Sir
william has
and does treat me and mankind in the most
handsome
and
genteel manner Imaginable which has endeared Him to
me very much though He has no Grace yet has no small
Share of lovely Humanity — But sir on the whole
the situation of the Indians with respect to their Lands
is very ticklish
and doubtful — no less than 15 thou‐
sand Pounds worth of goods and a vast deal of provision
with 7 chests of Gold and
silver weighing not less than
a Barrel weight of cider or Peck each is sent as a
Temptation with Rum wine and high Spirits proportional
if not to Exceed and
great numbers of adventurers from
all parts especially
Albany
New York
Pennsylvania
and
Virginia
and many
beyond— And besides
it is
thought
the King has a design to
make a large purchase of the natives for some pious
use — But this is kept as a secret which has not yet
transpired
and known only to a very few — I must leave you
as I am to guess in this matter what it portends but we
may be pretty sure
something to the
Church of England or some
dignitary — you will likely sir have a more full
account
and view of these things at the close of the Congress
which
I am apt to think will be about the Latter end of
next week it may be
not before the week after
Please to forward the enclosed—