Chapter XI

Preparations for an Indian Consultation at Philadelphia--Captain Brant
invited to attend--His objections--Letter of the Rev. Mr. Kirkland to
Captain Brant--Letter of the Secretary of War to the same--Letter of
Colonel Gordon to the same--Letter of Captain Brant to the Secretary of
War--The Secretary of War to Captain Brant--Attempts from Montreal to
prevent Brant from going to Philadelphia--His journey--Feelings against
him in the Mohawk Valley--His arrival at New-York and
Philadelphia--Liberal offers made him--Letter to the Count de Puisy--The
offers rejected--Undertakes a Mission of Peace to the Miamis--Returns to
New-York--Pursued by a German from the German Flats bent on taking his
life--Discovered in New-York--Brant returns to Niagara--Murder of
Colonel Harden and Major Trueman--Letters of Brant to the Secretary at
War--Feelings of the Western Nations--Correspondence between Brant and
McKee--Great Indian Council at the Au Glaize--Sickness of Captain
Brant--Hostilities deferred until Spring, and a treaty with the United
States ordered--Return of the Delegates of the Six Nations--Address to
President Washington--Separate organization of Upper Canada--Arrival of
Governor Simcoe--Letter to Brant from the Duke of
Northumberland--Preparations for the Great Council of 1783--Fresh
dissatisfaction of the Indians--Private Councils--They send their
ultimatum in anticipation--The American Commissioners depart for the
Indian country--Their arrival at Niagara--Friendly conduct of Governor
Simcoe--Celebration of the King's Birth-day--The Commissioners start for
the West--Their progress interrupted--Conduct of General Wayne--Brant
suddenly returns from the West with a Deputation--Council held at Fort
Erie--Commissioners return to Niagara--Council there--Speech of Captain
Brant--Reply of the Commissioners--Speech of Cat's-Eyes--Rejoinder of
Brant--Arrival of the Seven Nations--Brant proceeds to the Miami
Rapids--Followed by the Commissioners--Arrival at the Detroit
River--Their progress interrupted--Unexpected turn of
affairs--Explanations with Deputies from the Great Council--Long Debates
in the Indian Council--Brant speaks strongly for peace--Governor Simcoe
declines advising the Indians--The negotiations suddenly terminated by
the Indians--Their address--And sine qua non.

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