Peter Penet among the Oneida Indians. 287 



lie commission from the king of France, that his first 

 acquaintance with the ambassador was last summer at 

 Albany : he came into this country as a merchant, and has 

 entered into Indian affairs without any authority, and you 

 may he assured that no transaction of a public nature has 

 yet passed through his hands. 



" It is reported at Schenectady that his house is sold, 

 and it is not publicly known where he is gone. 



" Brothers : The governor at the last treaty, exhorted 

 you to attend to your own affairs, and hoped that you 

 would not be misled by idle and foolish tales, such as 

 might answer to deceive children, but ought not to be 

 credited by men. I wish you would attend to his advice, 

 and keep in the path he placed you." 1 



Thus disconcerted in their assurances, and perplexed by 

 the conflicting statements concerning Penet, twenty Oneidas 

 united in a letter to Governor Clinton of which the follow- 

 ing is a copy : 



" Brother : This is to inform you our situation, that we 

 the three tribes of Oneidas, are divided into two parties, 

 that is to say, the Sachems follow Mr. Peter Penet, the 

 Frenchman's advice ; and we the chief warriors and the 

 majority of our nation, even women, follow the State of ~New 

 York. We therefore make a petition, and enquire you as 

 we look upon you as a true loving brother, and as you the 

 father of the State, &c, &c. 



"Brother: At the first arrival of Mr. Peter Penet into 

 our castle, he delivered his speech to us (about two 

 years ago), as follows : 'My children, attend : I am appoint- 

 ed by the Great King and the Marquis de la Fayette, as a 

 Deputy Superintendent over some of the tribes of Indians 

 here in America, &c. I am safely arrived here in your 

 castle. The great king of France, and the Marquis de la 

 Fayette long to see you happy. You are now the first nation 

 I entered into, and I see you are happy and glad to see me 

 here, and I must therefore choose your nation to be his sub- 

 jects, and you must obey what I say to you, because it is 



1 Indian Treaties,\\. 320 1 



