37^ NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Six Nations being represented and the Seneca Abeals or Corn- 

 planter's party. The brief treaty, as signed, has alone been pre- 

 served. The hatchet was buried by all. The Oneidas and Tus- 

 caroras were secured in the possession of their lands, the former 

 making large claims. The Six Nations unwillingly gave up most 

 of the territory not occupied by them. It was gained and lost 

 by the sword. 



Cornplanter brought about this treaty, with which the Indians 

 were dissatisfied, and Red Jacket took advantage of this to 

 increase his own popularity. Brant was also displeased and gave 

 up a proposed visit to England to attend to the matter, not liking 

 the detention of a Mohawk chief sent by him. The American 

 commissioners were Oliver Wolcott, Richard Butler and Arthur 

 Lee. Some Pennsylvania commissioners were also at this 

 treaty, on state affairs, and found the usual delays. At last four 

 of the Iroquois nations began the council ; but " the Business, 

 in our Opinion, would not have commenced so soon had it not 

 been at the instance of the Marquis De la Fayette, who wished 

 to address the Indians, and was under the necessity of departing 

 this day or to-morrow." He was very plain spoken. " Their 

 Answer was pertinent, and breathed the spirit of peace. The 

 Mohawks, in particular, declared their repentance for the Errors 

 which they had committed." These commissioners were suc- 

 cessful in their business, and at successive treaties all the 

 Indian lands in Pennsylvania were purchased except Cornplant- 

 er's reservation. 



Brant soon after visited the western Indians, probably with a 

 view to a confederacy, and then went to England in 1785. The 

 London papers said he had presided at a great council of many 

 nations, and had been appointed to conduct a proposed war 

 against the United States. He secured payment of Mohawk 

 claims from the British government the next year, and edited a 

 superb edition of the IMohawk prayer book. Another had been 

 issued in Canada during the war. 



The British still retained the frontier posts and encouraged the 

 hostility of the Indians. In December 1786 a great Indian coun- 



y 



