vision for the better Regulation & Improvement of that Com merce. The Governor is required to use his interest to encourage the Members of the said late Company to continue their said Trade. And because the discontinuing the school at Christiana may give umbrage to the Indians as if all further care of them or their children was to cease. The governor was pleased to declare he would continue the same allowances to the school as heretofore untill it be known whether the general assembly think fitt to keep up that Fort which is necessary for the security of the Indian Hostages educated at the said school. Whereas the governor was pleased to inform this Board that the Scales & weights sent in by Mr. Perry for the use of the Agents appointed for the better execution of the Act for preventing frauds in tobacco payments &c are charged to his (the Governor's) private account, altho' the price thereof was directed to be reserved here and remitted to Mr. Perry by Mr. Boyd his Maty's late Receiver General. It is ordered that the present Receiver General do collect what money is yet due from the severall agents and take care that the ballance due to Mr. Perry be satisfyed and that he certify to the said Perry that the ballance due to him is not to be charged to the account of the Governor. At a Council held at the Capitol the 13th day of August, 1717. Present: The Honble the Lieut. Governor, Edmund Jenings, The Governor this day acquainted the Council that in pursuance of what was resolved on the 4th of May last, he had dispatched Capt. Christopher Smith with a letter to the Governor of New York and with proper Instruction for Negotiating by the sd Governor's interposition with the Senequas and other of the five Nations, for the obtaining the liberty of the Cattabaw prisoners taken by them at Christiana, a suitable Reparation for the affront offered by them to this his Maty's Government on that occasion and to prevail with them to send Deputys hither in order to renew & confirm the Peace made with this Government in the year 1685. That in answer thereto he had received a letter from Brigadier Hunter together with a Transcript of what pass'd between him & the s Indians at Albany the 16th & 17th of June past upon the afores'd Message by Capt. Smith: And * * Said Letter and Transcripts were now read at the Board, containing in substance (after some Accusations ag' the Cattabaw Indians) an acknowledgment of the Mohocks, one of the s five nations that it was they who attack'd Cattabaws at Christiana, that they took only two prisoners, one made his escape and came to Virginia, and the other being a woman also escaped after they had brought her into their Countie, and has been since seen among the English, but if she can be found they will send her to the Governor of New York to be conveyed back to Virginia; The said five Nations excuse themselves that they did not know the sd Cattabaws to be friends to the English of Virginia, and that to prevent all Mischief for the future they promise that none of their people shall henceforth go out a fighting this way. They refuse to send Deputys to treat in this Country and insist that Albany being the place where they have always treated, this Government should send over Agents thither to renew the Peace or Covenant chain made with them 32 years ago, and in general deny their being concerned in the murder of Majo Wynne the plundering the Traders or the threatening to cut off the English & Saponies at Christiana. There was also read at the Board the Transactions of the Governor & Council of Pennsylvania with the Connastoga & Savana Indians & the part they had at the afores'd Insult at the Fort of Christiana, the sa Savannos owned that 6 of their Indians had accompany'd that part of the five Nations who committed the murder at Christiana, but that the six Indians were not concerned in that facte being then encamped at a considerable distance from the said Fort; and as to the murder of Major Wynne, the plundiring of the Indian Traders or any other Murder Committed on the people of Virginia they denyed their being concerned therein. After reading of which several letters & proceedings This Board came to the following Resolutions, viz: That it appears by the Confession of the five Nations that they attacked the Cattawba Indians at Christianna where they could not there was an English Garrison and that the said Indians were under the protection of that Fort. That the s Insult on this Government is a manifest breach of the Peace made with them in the year 1685 and contrary to the **they have often made not to injure any of his Majestys Subjects in amity with them. That the Peace of this Government cannot be secure unless the s five Nations are confined in their ranges to the other side of the Mountains & the Connastoga, Savanno & other nations in Confederacy with the five Nations restrained from passing Potomack River on this Side the sa Great Mountain. That the Constant Excursions of the s five Nations & their Dependants along the ffrontiers of this Colony & their Correspondence with & frequent marches to & from the Tuscaroras has occasioned a vast charge & Trouble to this Colony in keeping Rangers for its necessary defence. That the said five Nations insisting on their treating nowhere but at Albany and that his Majesty's Governments should send Agents to treat with them there is dishonorable to his Majesty's said Government. That therefore it is fitt to represent to his Majesty the necessity of Confining the said Indians to the other Side the great Mountains & that they be made sensible that the Considerable presents which His Majesty is pleased to make them are intended. to Secure their friendship to all his Majtys plantations on this Continent and not to that Province alone where the Said Pres ents are delivered. And upon consideration of a Proposal communicated by the Governor for making a Settlement & erecting a ffort at the late discovered passage over the Great Mountain and addressing his Majesty that the said proposed ffort and that at Albany he alternately the places for delivering his Matie's Presents to, and renewing the Alliances with the s Indians. The Council are unanimously of opinion that if his Majesty shall be pleased to give such directions the same will be a means of creating a better correspondence between the said Indians. and this & the Neighbouring Provinces whose Agents can more conveniently repair to the aforesaid passage of the Mountains. than to Albany whenever the Affairs of the s'd Respective Gov ernments require their confidence with the afores'd Indians. Besides, the delivering the presents to the sd Indians there, will make them more Sensible than they seem at present to be. That his Maj'ty requires in return of so great a Benevolence that their friendship should extend to all his Maj'ty's Plantations as well as to that where they have here to fore been accustomed to receive the Same. And forasmuch as the Governor was pleased to signify his intentions of going next month as far as Philadelphia, there to have an interview with the Governors of New York, Maryland & Pennsylvania for the better concerting the proper measures to keep all the Indians under the respective Governments in Amity with his Majesty's subjects. The Council are of opinion that it is necessary speedy measures be taken to bring the said Indians, especially the five Nations, to a better Observance of their Treaty and a more just regard to this & the Neighbouring Colonys to which a concert & so many of his Majesty's Governors may greatly * On reading at this Board a Letter from Christianna giving an account of some murder lately committed by the Maherens & Saponee Indians on another, It is ordered that the difference between the sd Indians be examined in Council at the next Generall Court, and in the mean time the Governor was pleased to declare that he would send for the Chiefs & all the Tributary Indians and engage them to forbear all hostilitys on one another untill the difference between them be examined & determined at this Board. On consideration of the Accompt exhibited by Mr. Christopher Smith of his enquires in going to New York & Albany for his Majesty's service, It is ordered that there be paid him out of his Majesties Revenue of 2 per hogshead &c., the sum of Fifty pounds, being for one half of the expence of the Journey & Recompence for his trouble the * * Indian Company having agreed to pay him the other half. * Whereon this Board are inform'd of divers abuses in the manner of taking up land, such as the keeping possession of land upon a bare entry or Survey without any pattent, and the * * of such lands are found proper for the Manufacture of Pitch & Tarr, immediately upon such Entry, gathering & burning the Lightwood without ever deigning to take out pattent for the same, whereby his Maj'ty is greatly deprived of his Quit Rents and others who would take up & improve the s land deprived of the benefit thereof: for prevention of such practices for the future, the Governor with the advice of the * * November the 13th, 1717. Present As Yesterday: Edmund The Governor having communicated to this Board his Negotiation with Brigadier Hunter, Governor of New York, for securing the Peace of this Colony by preventing the Incursions of the five Nations of Indians under that Province and having also communicated a Representation of the Severall hostilitys committed by the s Indians notwithstanding their former Treatys together with two Preliminary Articles offered to the said Indians; And the same being read at the Board are approved as absolutely necessary to be ensisted on before any farther Treaty be sett on foot with the sd five Nations. On reading at this Board a petition of the Freeholders & Inhabitants of the City of Williamsburgh, praying that for the Encouragement of the s peace the seat of Government a charter may be granted for Incorporating the Inhabitants of s city by such name & with such priviledges & Immunitys as shall be thought fitt for the good Government and improvement thereof. It is the opinion of the Council that the granting a charter for incorporating ye Inhabitants of the said city for granting the priviledge of Fairs & marketts & other Immunitys for the good government of such as shall come to reside therein, will tend to the * and encouragement of the s city. William Lyell by his petition praying to be paid for piloting the Caroline Sloop which came hither to transport Soldiers to that Province in 1715 from Hampton to York River and back again, for which service he hath received no satisfaction. It is ordered that it be referr'd to Mr. George Walker to certify what Allowance is due to the * * for that service, and that the same be paid out of his Majesty's Revenue of 2s. p. hogshead ** producing and certificate. The Board taking into consideration that the Repeal of the late Act for preventing frauds in tobacco payments. It is be |