HISTORY OF VERMONT. 345 



for the purpose of holding a conference with the 

 six nations, and to consult on measures for the 

 general interest and welfare. Governor Shirley 

 proposed to the several governors, that their 

 commissioners should be instructed on the sub- 

 ject of an l/?iion among the colonies. 



On the fourteenth of June, the commissioners 

 assembled, and on the eighteenth, the Congress 

 was opened. It consisted of delegates from 

 New- Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode-Island, 

 Connecticut, New- York, Pennsylvania, and 

 Maryland. They agreed to take their places in 

 geographical order, beginning at the north ; and 

 having adjusted their ceremonies and rules of 

 proceeding, on the twenty ninth they were ready 

 to treat with the Indians, who had been assem- 

 bled for that purpose. The ceremonies and 

 formality that generally attend an Indian treaty, 

 render it a matter both of curiosity and instruc- 

 tion. The arrangement that was adopted on 

 this occasion, was designed to give importance 

 to the transaction. Mr. Dc Lancey, lieutenant 

 governor, and at that time commander in chief 

 of New- York, within whose territory the lands 

 of the six nations chiefly lay, was appointed 

 speaker to address the Indians. On his light 

 hand were the commissioners from the colonies ; 

 on his left hand, were the council of New- York, 

 officers, and citizens of rank and respectability. 

 In the front were the Sachems and chiefs of the 

 six nations, attended by many of their tribes 5 

 arranged jn a circular form, and preserving a 

 solemn silence. The speech turned on the cus-^ 

 ternary topics, how much the French injured 

 aad abused, and how much the English loved 



