Peter Penet among the Oneida Indians. 289 



sent by the ambassador, according to the desire of some 

 of our sachems ; which, we are afraid, that our divisions 

 will grow worse and worse, both in temporal and spiritual, 

 for we wish to have but one sort of religion and minister, 

 that is, Mr. Samuel Kirkland. Further, we would let you 

 know, that our sachems have sent a letter to the ambassa- 

 dor in a private manner, refuse to let us know what they 

 6ay in their letter, but what we write to you we do it at 

 our council fire ; therefore, we wish that the ambassador 

 should know that what our sachems write of him is not 

 from the whole nation. 



Done in council at our council house of Oneida, this 

 twenty- third day of August, one thousand, seven hund- 

 red and eighty-nine." 1 



To this, Governor Clinton replied in a letter, dated !N"ew 

 York, September 12th, 1789: 



"Brothers: I have received your letter, and I shall 

 now give you an answer. Mr. Penet is only to be con- 

 sidered among you as an adventuring merchant, pursuing 

 his own private interests. He holds no office, nor does he 

 sustain any public character in this country ; but he 

 attempts to deceive you, therefore, when he says he is 

 sent by the king of France and the Marquis de la Fayette, 

 to transact business with you, you ought not to listen to 

 his speeches nor pay any regard to his dreams. The king 

 of France is our good friend and ally ; he has an ambassa- 

 dor here (whom you saw with me at Fort Stanwix last 

 fall), to transact business and maintain friendship with the 

 United States, but he has nothing to do with any particu- 

 lar State, or the Indians residing within it. You must 

 not, therefore, believe Mr. Penet when he says he is sent 

 among you by the ambassador. I presume the priest now 

 with you, came at the request of Mr. Penet, and his 

 friends. They have a right to worship God in the manner 

 most agreeable to them, but I approve of your determi- 



1 Signed by twenty Oneidas, and witnessed by six Stockbridges and Tus- 

 caroras. — Indian Treaties, ii, 346, where the names of the signers are given. 



