as we shall be ready to defend ourselves against the French, so that I am in good hopes to be able to

hold this place, in case we are attacked, and I hope Your Lordships will support me in taking these measures for securing our right to the five nations against the Encroachments and Pretensions of the

French, and represent the whole affair to His Majesty, both of the French building at Niagara, contrary to the treaty of Utrecht, and of their disturbing our undoubted right of Trading and building

upon the land of the five Nations at Oswego.

EXTRACT FROM THE PARTICULARS OF THE VOYAGE OF M. DE LA CHAUVIGNELIE, OFFICER, INTERPRETER OF THE FIVE IROQUOIS NATIONS, SENT BV ORDER OF THE GENERAL WITH A MESSAGE TO THE NONTAGUES (ONONDAGAS). 1728 [Paris Doc. VIII.]

Three leagues from Choueguen I sent three Wampum belts to notify the Nontague Chiefs to meet

me on business which brought me among them

;

and with three other

belts I invited the four other

Iroquois Nations their allies to repair to the Nontagues to hear the message of their Father of which I was the bearer to them.

On the arrival of the Nontagues at my tent, they told me on the part of the Commandant of Choueguen, that as

I was

passing his place on public business, I must fire the

first salute and lower

my

PAPERS RELATING TO OSWEGO. flag.

my people would persuade me to do so. I therefore suddenlyknow such Ye is not the intention of your Father Onontio whose mesA young fool in the canoe of those of the Lake said to me aloud, that he would fire