256 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Governor Bellomont had died, and Lieutenant Governor Nan- 

 fan held a conference with the Five Nations at Albany July 10, 

 1701, when the first beaver land trust deed was given. This 

 comprised the land north and northwest of Lake Ontario and 

 Lake Erie, the latter being often called Sweege, the equivalent 

 of Oswego. Both shores of this were included, and Nanfan 

 described the tract as 800 miles long and 400 broad. It was 

 designed to prevent French claims and was signed by 20 chiefs 

 from all the nations. He told them they should not have allowed 

 a French fort at Detroit. Most of this great tract was in Canada, 

 and they said they had- taken it from the Agaritkas or Hurons, 

 60 years before. There was a later trust deed of lands south of 

 the lakes. 



At a council in Philadelphia, Ap. 23, 1701, Ahookassongh was 



present and was called " the brother of the great Emperor of 



the Onondagas." William Penn had addressed a letter from 



London June 25, 1682, '' To the Emperor of Canada," intending 



the same ruler. He said : 



The Great God that made thee and me, and all the world, 

 Incline our hearts to love, peace and Justice, that we may live 

 friendly together, as becomes the workmanship of the great God. 

 The King of England, who is a Great Prince, hath for Divers 

 Reasons Granted to me a large Country in America, which, how- 

 ever, I am willing to Injoy upon friendly terms with thee. And 

 this I will say, that the people who comes with me are a just, 

 plain, and honest people, that neither make war upon others nor 

 fear war from others, because they will be just. I have sett up a 

 Society of Traders in my Province, to traflick with thee and thy 

 people for your Commodities, that you may be furnished with 

 that which is good at reasonable rates. And this Society hath 

 ordered their President to treat with thee about a future Trade, 

 and have joined with me to send their Messenger to thee, with 

 certain Presents from us, to testify our Willingness to have a 

 fair Correspondence with thee: And what this Agent shall do in 

 our names we will agree unto. I hope thou wilt kindly Receive 

 him, and Comply with his desires on our behalf, both with respect 

 to Land and Trade. The Great God be with thee. Amen. 



The coming of several French priests has been mentioned. The 



Onondagas were about equally divided on this, but Lamberville 



had a house and chapel there in 1702. Maricourt installed him 



